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3gOK    8  13.3.T37   c.  1 

#    GREEN    MOUNTAIN    BOYS 


3    T1S3    0D1S3D7 


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This  Book  may  be  kept  out 

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only  and  is  subject  to  a  fine  of 
TWO  CENTS  a  day  thereafter. 
It  will  be  due  on  the  day  indicated 
below.  > 

JUL  30  1935 

*.  s .-•■  . 


lAR  19 


'44 


APR  to  '43 
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The  Green  Mountain  Boys  ^^ 

^-S^^^^^A  Historical  Tale  '  '  "^ 

of  the  Early  Settlement  of  Vermont  ^  ^  t^ 

*  ^  By  Judge  D.  P.  Thompson  1^3>1 


Chicago  and  New  York  *  ♦  ♦ 
Rand,  McNally  &  Company 


^\^b. 


Inscribed  to  the 

Honorable  Heman  Allen, 

Late  U.  S.  Minister  to  Chili. 


To  no  one  can  this  work  be  more  appropriately  dedicated 

than  to  the  distinguished  son 

of  one  of  that 

intelligent,  enterprising,  and  fearless  band  of  brothers, 

The  Aliens, 

to  whose  energetic  characters  and  varied  services, 

Vermont  is  so  deeply  indebted 

for  her  existence  as  an  independent  State, 

and  for  the 

foundation  of  her  present  prosperity. 


Digitized  by  the  Internet  Archive 

in  2011  with  funding  from 

LYRASIS  members  and  Sloan  Foundation 


http://www.archive.org/details/greenmountainboy1839thom 


PREFACE. 

The  following  pages  are  intended  to  embody  and  illus- 
trate a  portion  of  the  more  romantic  incidents  which  actually 
occurred  in  the  early  settlements  of  Vermont,  with  the  use 
of  but  little  more  fiction,  than  was  deemed  sufficient  to  weave 
them  together,  and  impart  to  the  tissue  a  connected  interest. 
In  doing  this,  the  author  has  ventured,  for  the  sake  of  more 
unity  of  design,  upon  one  or  two  anachronisms;  or,  in  other 
words,  he  has  brought  together,  or  nearly  so,  some  incidents 
connected  with  the  portions  of  the  two  different  periods  em- 
braced in  the  work,  viz.,  the  ISTew  York  controversy  and 
the  Eevolution — which  occurred  at  intervals.  Other  than 
this,  he  is  sensible  of  no  violations  of  historical  truth.  With- 
out consulting,  as  perhaps  he  should,  the  models  to  be  found 
in  the  works  of  approved  writers  in  this  department  of  litera- 
ture, he  has  endeavored  to  give  a  true  delineation  of  the  man- 
ners and  feelings  of  those  among  whom  the  scene  is  laid,  to- 
gether with  the  deeds  and  characters  of  some  of  the  leading 
actors  in  the  events  he  has  attempted  to  describe,  as  gathered 
from  the  imperfect  published  histories  of  the  times,  from  the 
private  papers  to  which  he  has  had  access,  and  more  particu- 
larly from  the  lips  of  the  few  aged  relics  of  that  period  who 
actively  participated  in  the  wild  and  stirring  scenes  which 
peculiarly  marked  the  settlement  of  this  part  of  the  country. 
How  far  he  has  succeeded  in  the  attempt  it  is  for  the  public, 

not  for  him,  to  decide. 

THE  4UTH0E. 
Montpelier,  March,  1839. 


^ 


THE  GREEN  MOUNTAIN  BOYS. 


CHAPTER  I. 


*'And  now  for  scenes  where  nature  in  her  pride 
Roar'd  in  rough  floods,  and  wav'd  in  forests  wide — 
Where  men  were  taught  the  desert  path  to  trace. 
And  the  rude  pleasures  of  the  montain  chase — 
With  light  canoe  to  plough  the  glassy  lake. 
And  from  its  depths  the  silvery  trout  to  take — 
Where  nerves  of  iron  grew,  and  souls  of  tone 
To  soft  refinement's  tranquil  scenes  unknown." 


Those  who  have  wandered  along  the  banks  of  the  Otter 
Creek,  in  search  of  the  beautiful  and  picturesque,  may  have 
extended  their  rambles,  perhaps,  to  lake  Dunmore,  which  lies 
embosomed  among  the  hills  a  few  miles  to  the  eastward  of 
that  quiet  stream.  If  so,  their  taste  for  natural  scenery  has 
doubtless  been  amply  gratified;  for  there  is  no  spot  in  the 
whole  range  of  the' Green  Mountains  that  combines  more  of 
the  requisites  for  a  perfect  landscape  than  this  romantic  sheet 
of  water  and  its  surrounding  shores.  Of  an  oblong  form, 
about  four  miles  in  length  and  one  in  breadth,  this  lake,  or 
pond,  as  such  bodies  of  water  are  more  usually  denominated 
among  us,  lies  extended  between  the  main  ridge  and  a  col- 
lateral eminence  on  the  west,  of  a  height  but  little  more  than 
sufficient  to  serve  as  a  secure  embankment  to  this  noble  res- 
ervoir of  the  hills.  From  the  eastern  shore  the  land  rises 
abruptly  into  a  lofty  mountain,  which,  like  some  mighty  giant- 
ess, sits  enthroned  in  the  mid  heavens,  her  head  turbaned 
with  a  wreath  of  white  mist,  and  looking  down  with  seeming 
fondness  and  care  upon  the  bright  daughter,  that  reflecting 


6  THE  GREEN  MOUNTAIN  BOYS, 

back  lier  own  rude  image,  lies  quietly  reposing  in  her  lap,  re- 
ceiving the  rich  supply  of  a  thousand  pearly  rills  that  come 
gushing  to  her  opening  lips.  To  the  north  and  south  open 
long  and  beautiful  vistas,  extending  along  over  the  bright 
extremities  of  the  lake,  and  terminating  among  the  far  off 
j)eaks  of  the  Green  Mountains;  while  from  the  western  shore 
the  land,  after  a  gentle  rise  for  a  short  distance,  falls  off  rap- 
idly toward  the  Otter,  leaving  the  broad  and  extensive  valley 
of  that  stream  open  to  the  vision,  which  now  wanders  unob- 
structed to  the  western  borders  of  the  lake  Champlain,  w^here 
the  long  chain  of  mountains  that  rise  immediately  beyond, 
lies  sleeping  in  the  blue  distance,  and  bounds  the  view  of 
this  magnificent  scene. 

It  was  near  sunset,  on  one  of  the  last  days  of  i^pril,  and  in 
the  same  year  and  month  as  were  marked  by  the  opening 
scene  of  our  great  national  drama,  that  four  stout  and  hardy 
looking  men,  two  of  them  about  the  middle  age,  and  two 
considerably  younger,  were  seen  occupying  a  large  log  canoe 
near  the  eastern  shore  of  the  lake  just  described,  and  engaged 
fishing  for  trout.  -Their  success  through  the  day  in  ensnaring 
"the  pride  of  the  pure  waters,^^  as  the  trout  has  been  appro- 
priately termed,  had  been  ample,  as  was  evinced  by  the  large 
strings  of  this  beautiful  fish  lying  on  the  bottom  of  the  boat 
beneath  the  feet  of  their  respective  captors.  'Now,  however, 
as  the  rapidly  lengthening  shadows  of  the  dark  primeval  for- 
est, that  thickly  lined  the  shore,  had  nearly  closed  over  the 
lake,  the  party  began  to  manifest  a  disposition  to  relinquish 
the  exciting  labors  of  the  day.  One  sat  listless  and  unem- 
j)loyed  in  his  seat;  another  was  taking  in  and  winding  up  his 
line;  while  the  third  had  handled  the  oars,  and  sat  patiently 
awaiting  the  movements  of  the  fourth,  who  seemed  intent 
on  securing,  before  quitting  the  station,  one  more  victim,  as 
"a  most  severe  large  one,^'  he  said,  was  brushing  round  his 
hook.  At  length  the  speckled  tantalizer,  after  playing  warily 
round  the  bait  awhile,  seized  it  with  a  desperation  that 
seemed  to  imply  at  once  his  suspicions  and  his  determination 
to  test  them,  and  was  drawn  flapping  and  floundering  into  the 
boat,  amidst  a  shout  of  exultation  from  the  company,  who 
unanimously  declared  the  fish  to  be  a  ten-pounder,  and  the 
capital  prize  of  all  that  had  that  day  been  taken.  All  being 
now  in  readiness,  the  boat  was  rowed  slowly  toward  the  shore 
in  the  direction  of  a  spot  indicated  as  the  place  of  their  tern- 


THE  GREEN  MOUNTAIN  BOYS.  7 

porary  quarters  by  a  slight,  wreathy  line  of  blue  smoke,  which 
had  risen  from  their  boon  fires,  and  still  hung  undissipated 
along  the  precipitous  cliffs  of  the  mountain  above.  On  reach- 
ing the  shore  the  party,  after  taking  out  their  fish  and  care- 
fully concealing  their  canoe  in  a  thick  clump  of  overhang- 
ing bushes,  proceeded  to  their  retreat,  which  proved  to  be  a 
cavern  in  the  rocks,  at  the  foot  of  the  mountain,  here  shutting 
dovv^n  within  a  dozen  rods  of  the  lake.  The  front  of  this  cave 
consisted  of  a  sort  of  natural  porch,  eight  or  ten  feet  in  length, 
and  of,  perhaps,  about  half  that  number  of  feet  in  wdclth, 
formed  by  a  projection  of  the  rocks  above  and  on  each  side, 
so  as  to  enclose  the  intervening  space.  From  the  center  of 
the  area  thus  formed  in  front,  an  entrance,  wide  enough  only 
to  admit  one  person  at  a  time,  opened  into  the  interior,  or 
main  j^art  of  the  cavern,  a  spacious  and  lofty  room  branching 
of!  in  several  dark  recesses  that  appeared  to  extend  far  into 
the  rocks.  This  cave  had  once  been  a  favorite  lodge  with  the 
Indians,  as  was  evident  from  the  flint  arrow-heads,  and  other 
indications  of  aboriginal  life,  discovered  in  and  about  the 
place;  and  in  late  years  it  had  been  the  usual  resort  of  pro- 
fessional hunters,  and  others  of  the  neighboring  settlement, 
when  out  for  more  than  one  day  on  fishing  and  hunting  ex- 
cursions on  the  lake  or  its  vicinity,  as  it  afforded  them  com- 
fortable quarters  for  the  night,  and  such  as  could  easily  be 
secured  from  the  intrusion  of  wild  beasts,  or  Indians,  small 
parties  of  whom,  though  not  generally  very  hostile  at  this 
period,  were  still  occasionally  seen  skulking  among  these 
mountains.  The  party  nov/  present,  as  before  remarked,  were 
four  in  number.  The  two  eldest  of  these  had  nothing  re- 
markable in  their  Appearance  to  distinguish  them  from  the 
ordinary  run  of  men,  except  their  broad  chests  and  strong 
muscular  limbs,  which  they  possessed  in  common  with  most 
of  the  settlers.  Of  the  other  two,  whom  we  will  more  particu- 
larly describe,  one  was  a  young  woodsman  of  very  singular  and 
striking  appearance.  He  was  full  seven  feet  high,  and  as 
straight  as  an"  arrow.  From  his  trunk,  which,  though  strong- 
ly made,  and  quite  as  large  as  that  of  a  common  stout  man, 
looked  like  a  may-pole,  rose  a  long,  slender  neck,  surmounted 
by  a  small  apple-shaped  head.  His  features  might  have  been 
regular  when  he  slept,  but  in  conversation,  in  which  he  was 
always  sure  to  have  a  part,  they  were  made  to  play  such  an- 
tics^ by  way  of  acting  as  gestures  to  the  queer  conceits  with 


8  THE    GREEN    MOUNTAIN    BOYS. 

which  his  brain  was  forever  teeming,  that  it  would  have  been 
difficult  to  tell  what  any  one  of  them  might  have  been  when 
reduced  to  a  state  of  quiescence.  His  mouth  with  a  peculiar 
twist  seemed  to  move  at  will  in  a  half  circle  from  one  ear  to 
the  other;  while  his  nose,  playing  at  cross  purposes  with  his 
mouth,  was  seemingly  wriggled  up  to  the  eyebrows,  or  let 
down  to  the  chin  at  the  option  of  its  owner.  These,  with  the 
e3^es,  which  were  no  less  singularly  expressive,  combined  to 
form  a  countenance  to  the  last  degree  comical,  though,  with 
all  its  predominating  humor,  great  good  nature  and  consid- 
erable native  intulligence  were  very  visibly  mingled  in  its 
expression.  This  man  went  by  the  name  of  Pete  Jones,  or 
long-legged  Pete,  as  was  his  more  common  appellation  among 
his  companions.  The  other  person,  the  only  one  of  the  party 
now  remaining  to  be  described,  was  evidently  far  superior  in 
every  respect,  except  physical  powers,  to  the  rest,  of  the  com- 
pany. His  exterior  exhibited  a  high  degree  of  manly  beauty, 
both  in  form  and  feature,  while  a  fine  dark  eye,  with  a  clean- 
ly turned,  rectilinear  nose,  and  a  high  square  forehead,  indi- 
cated tastes  of  an  intellectual  character.  His  countenance 
was  expressive  of  keen  perceptions,  and  manifested  also,  like 
that  of  the  person  last  described,  a  strong  disposition  to  wit 
and  mirthf Illness;  though  his  disposition  unlike  that  of  his 
rude  companion,  had  been  evidently  chastened  and  trained 
by  education  and  intercourse  with  refined  society,  the  advan- 
tages of  both  of  which  his  language  and  manners  showed  he 
had  received.  His  whole  appearance,  indeed,  was  such  as 
would  induce  to  the  probable  conclusion  that  a  romantic  turn 
of  mind,  with  a  love  of  the  exciting  scenes  of  the  forests,  or 
still  more  exciting  strife  in  which  the  settlers  were  engaged 
with  the  neighboring  colony,  had  led  him  to  a  temporary 
adoption  of  his  present  course  of  life,  and  that  he  was  rather 
an  amateur  woodsman  than  one  from  habit  or  necessity. 

When  the  party  reached  their  quarters,  the  person  whose 
description  last  occupied  us,  separated  himself  from  the  rest, 
and,  clambering  up  the  steep,  sat  down  on  a  commanding  cliff, 
some  hundred  feet  above  the  cave,  leaving  the  duties  of  the 
cam.p  to  be  performed  by  those  who  remained  below.  The 
latter,  after  kindling  up  a  fire  in  front  of  the  cave,  proceeded 
to  bring  from  the  interior  a  light,  portable  kettle,  and  piece 
of  salt  junk,  articles  with  which  such  parties  usually  went 
provided,  and  soon  became  busily  engaged  in  dressing  and 


THE  GREEN  MOUNTAIN  BOYS.  9 

preparing  a  portion  of  the  fruits  of  tlieir  day's  labors  for  an 
evening  repast. 

"Smith/^  said  tlie  tall  woodsman,  whose  peculiarities  we 
have  before  noted,  now  turning  to  one  of  his  comrades  as 
they  were  proceeding  with  their  culinary  labors;  ^^say.  Smith, 
what  do  you  suppose  Mr.  Selden  has  perched  himself  on 
that  old  crazy  crag  up  there  for?  He  looks  as  glum  and  hazy 
as  a  cat-ovd  winking  at  the  sun  with  one  eye  and  watching  a 
tree  toad  with  the  other." 

"Well  done  for  you,  Pete  Jones!"  responded  the  person  ad- 
dressed; "I  rather  guess  you  have  hit  the  nail  on  the  head 
this  time;  for  Selden,  I've  noticed  is  fond  of  looking  at 
prospects — scenery,  I  think  he  calls  it — well,  while  he  has 
an  eye  for  that,  it's  my  opinion  he  is  on  the  look-out  for  mis- 
chief, which  he  thinks  ma}^  perhaps  be  brewing  for  us  some- 
where— what  say  you,  Brown?" 

"Well,  I  don't  know,"  replied  the  latter,  a  plain,  blunt,  and 
lomewhat  dogged  looking  man;  "there  may  be  something  in 
your  idee — and  come  to  think .  of  it,  I  guess  it  is  so :  You 
know  we  caught  a  glimpse  or  two  of  a  fellow  skulking  round 
the  shore  over  yonder,  last  evening,  as  we  were  coming  across 
to  take  up  our  quarters  here;  and  I  remember  that  Selden 
seemed  to  watch  his  movements  as  if  he  had  some  suspicions 
that  the  fellow  might  be  a  spy  upon  us." 

"That's  it,"  rejoined  Smith;  "and  if  Selden  named  the 
affair  to  the  Captain  when  he  joined  us  last  night,  as  I'll 
warrant  you  he  did,  seeing  they  had  considerable  private  talk 
together,  most  likely  he  got  orders  to  keep  a  spare  eye  for 
breakers  to-day.  I" have  noticed  several  times  this  afternoon 
that  he  seemed  to  be  looking  round  the  lake  rather  anxiously; 
and  it  was  that  which  set  me  to  thinking." 

"By  the  way,"  interposed  Jones;  "what  in  the  world  can 
have  got  the  Captain,  that  he  aint  in  by  this  time?  N'ot  a 
single  loud  word  has  his  rifle  spoken  to-day,  to  my  hearing." 

"He  has  doubtless  taken  a  wide  range  to-day,"  replied 
Smith,  who  assumed  to  be  the  best  guesser  of  the  trio;  "but 
an  eye  as  keen,  and  an  aim  as  sure  as  the  young  Captain's, 
never  need  be  exercised  a  whole  day  for  nothing  on  these 
mountains.    He  don't  come  home  empty  to-night  you'll  find." 

"I  wish  he  would  come,  however,"  observed  Brown;  "I 
am  anxious  to  know  what  are  to  be  the  orders  for  to-morrow. 
I  hope  he  won't  make  us  wait  here  another  day  for  more  to 


10  THE    GREEN    MOUNTAIN    BOYS. 

Join  us  before  we  proceed  on  the  business  we  came  for.  We 
Lave  now  been  nearly  three  days,  coming  and  here,  without 
a  chance  of  setting  our  seals  to  the  back  of  a  single  Yorker. 
I  wouldn^t  have  volunteered  and  left  my  work  at  this  busy 
season  but  for  Captain  Warrington^s  promise  to  let  us  have 
right  at  ^em,  and  be  off  again.  And  I  wouldn't  at  no  rate,  if 
he  had  not  fought  so  like  a  young  lion  for  me  at  the  time  these 
land  sharks  turned  us,  wife,  little  ones,  and  all,  out  into  the 
snow.  He  did  me  God's  service  at  that  time;  so  I  thought  I 
ought  to  oblige  him  by  coming.  Though,  be  sure,  I  was 
obliging  my  own  feelings  about  as  much;  for,  so  help  me 
Heaven!  I  would  go  fourteen  miles  barefoot  in  January  for 
a  chance  to  pay  off  scores  upon  those  same  York  gentry." 

"So  would  I,"  remarked  Smith;  "for  what  was  your  case 
may  soon  be  mine,  unless  we  all  turn  out,  and  drive  the  scoun- 
drels from  the  Grants  every  time  they  put  foot  within  them. 
So  we  must  not  grudge  a  little  time  spent  in  paying  off  our 
debts  in  this  manner,  seeing  we  shall  be  doing  the  public 
a  service  at  the  same  time.  Only  think  of  Warrington!  He 
has  spent  more  than  half  his  time  in  this  way  for  the  last 
three  years;  and  all  he  has  ever  got  by  -it  has  been  to  have  a 
price  set  upon  his  head." 

"They  have  set  a  price  on  my  head,  too,"  gloomily  re- 
sumed the  other;*  "but  as  for  the  Captain,  he  will  have  his 
reward  in  heaven;  while  they  have  made  me  so  savage  and 
murderous  in  my  feelings  that  I  begin  to  fear  that  heaven  will 
be  no  place  for  me." 

■  "Well,  I  owe  the  scamps  nothing  in  particular  myself,  I 
believe,"  observed  Jones;  "but  not  knowing  how  soon  I 
might,  seeing  as  how  I  had  lately  bought  a  new  lot  down 
there  near  Old  Ti,  I  thought  I  might  as  well  join  you  a  spell 
to  learn  the  way  and  manner  of  fixing  the  chaps.  And  I  cal- 
culated if  any  body  could  show  me  'twas  Captain  Charley, 
who  they  say  is  a  trifle  braver  than  Julius  Caesar,  besides  hav- 
ing a  heart  as  big  as  a  meeting  house." 

"What  would  you  say  of  Ethan  Allen  at  that  rate?"  asked 
Smith,  laughing. 

*  The  persons  outlawed  by  the  New  York  Assembly,  for  the  ap- 
prehension of  whom  a  reward  of  fifty  pounds  for  each  was  offered, 
were  Ethan  Allen,  Seth  Warner,  Remember  Baker,  Rob't  Coch- 
ron,  P.  Sunderland,  S.  Brown,  J.  Smith,  and  J.  Brackenridge. 


THE   GREEN   MOUNTAIN   BOYS.  11 

"Ethan  Allen?  Lordy!  why,  two  Alexanders,  with  half  a 
dozen  Turks  thrown  in  to  stiffen  the  upper  lip,  would  be  used 
up  in  making  the  priming  to  Ethan  Allen!  But  hoo!  what 
in  the  deviFs  name  has  come  among  us  now?"  continued  the 
speaker,  pointing  to  a  new  figure  that  had  arrived  unper- 
ceived,  and  noiselessly  taken  a  station  within  a  few  yards  of 
the  company. 

All  eyes  were  now  turned  to  the  spot  indicated  by  the  words 
and  odd  gesticulations  of  their  companion.  There  stood  a 
young  Indian,  quietly  looking  at  the  company,  or  rather,  after 
the  peculiarity  of  his  race,  looking  at  eYer3rthing  else  but  the 
company,  the  moment  they  turned  and  confronted  him.  He 
held  a  rifle  in  his  hand,  while  his  dress  differed  but  little 
from  the  ordinary  garb  of  the  settlers. 

"Umph!"  he  at  length  exclaimed  in  the  pecuhar.  Jerking 
guttural  of  the  native  Indian;  "Massa  Cappen — him  no 
here!" 

"Guessed  exactly  right,  Tawney!"  cried  Jones,  awakening 
from  the  momentary  surprise  into  which  he,  as  well  as  his 
companions,  had  been  thrown  by  the  unexpected  appearance 
of  such  a  visitor;  "but  what  do  you  want  with  the  Captain, 
my  beauty?" 

"Umph!  you  ask,  when  me  tell,  then  you  know,"  quickly 
replied  the  Indian,  with  the  apparent  object  both  to  evade 
the  question  and  retort  on  the  interrogator  for  the  manner 
in  which  it  was  put. 

"Eight  again!"  exclaimed  Smith,  pleased  at  the  rebuff 
thus  received  by  the  professed  joker  of  the  party;  "here, 
Jones,  let  nie  manage  him.  Where  did  you  leave  your  com- 
pany, friend?"  he  continued,  addressing  the  native  coaxingly 
— "I  conclu.de  there  are  more  of  your  people  somewhere  here- 
abouts?" 

Umph!"  answered  the    native    with    a    sarcastic    smile; 
ISTow  you  fraid — scare — why  you  no  run?" 

"Eighter  than  ever!"  shouted  Jones,  laughing  heartily  in 
turn  at  his  baffled  comrade,  who  had  fared  even  worse  than 
himself  in  the  re-encounter. 

Other  methods  were  then  taken  to  draw  from  the  Indian 
his  name  and  business,  but  without  the  least  success.  He 
either  stood  mute,  or  answered  with  such  odd  evasions,  that 
they  soon  gave  over  the  attempt,  and  called  to  Selden  on  the 
hill,  intimating  that  his  presence  was  needed  below.     That 


^"XT 


12  THE   GREEN   MOUNTAIN   BOYS. 

nerson  who  proved  to  be  second  in  command  in  the  espedi- 
?'on  as  Tf  partly  apprized  of  what  was  gomg  on,  immediately 

-'^l^Z:^l:^<1^T^^oLf:'^ey  say  yon  can  ma.e 
poeS  out  of  rocks  and  trees  if  you  are  a  mind  to-now  we 
want  to  see  what  vou  can  make  out  of  this  fellow.    _ 

"He  is  very  evidently  a  domesticated  Indian/  seriously  re- 
nhef  tie  persol  addressed,  who  appeared  just  then  m  no 
h  mor  to  reiki  the  jokes  of  the  other.  "He  probably  resides 
humor  TO  rui.ii  L      j         .  ^  j,       j  ^hink  I  have  heard  War- 

Srs^ero^meetVone  o'f  his  description  in  a  hunting 

''"Wen  ^^iSSr^for'the  Captain,"  observed  Smith.  ^^ 

"Then  he  ?as   some   business  with  him,  I  presume,"  re- 
ioined  Selden;   "some  friendly  message,  perhaps.  _ 

'   "UmDh'   that  man  say  it,"  said  the  subject  of  their  dis- 
courlpointfng  to  the  former  with  an  expressive  and  respect- 

^""wf  will  try  then  to  hasten   the  Captain's    fturn,"  ob- 

rid»eleStn!^n  ^^"^t^"^ 

SImU  note  was  capable  of  being  heard  at  a  great  dis- 

*' A^strict  silence  of  several  moments  was  now  observed  by 
thfwhoe  party  in  listening  for  a  reply  from  their  leader,  who, 
f'wls  undSod,  carried^about  ^m  a  corresponding  ins^^ru- 
I  A  f  1  .-no-fh  instead  of  a  reply  from  a  whistle,  tiie  siiaip 
"St  oi  aril  burst  torn  a  ne\glboring  glen,  and  echoing 
IK  from  clifl  to  clifl  in  the  surrounding  stillness,  died 
slowlv  away  on  the  distant  mountains. 

'T'here  he  is!"  "There  goes  the  Captain's  rifle— I  should 
know  l^r  voL  among  a^thousand,"  simultaneously  burst 
•fi-rnn  tbp  liBS  of  several  of  the  company. 

'?u<  a  I  told  you,"  said  Smith;  "I  knew  he  would  nev« 
return  empty.  That  shot,  mark  me,  brought  down  a  deer 
M  h7u&  in  his  eve  when  the  Leftenant  whistled,  an( 
prevented  ht  answering    th*  call,  which    no    small    gam 

"""The'lvent  soon  proved  the  truth  of  the  last  speaker's  cor 
ier-ture     The  heavy,  slow   tread,   as    of   one  carrying  soin 
letw;  load! now  became  distinguishable  at  a  distarice  m 
woods   the  sounds  falling  more  ^xA  more  distinctly  on  tl 


THE    GREEN    MOUNTAIN    BOYS.  13 

ear  every  moment  as  they  approached  the  spot  where  the 
expectant  and  excited  party  stood,  eagerly  straining  their 
eyes  to  catch  tlie  first  glimpse  of  their  huntsman  leader.  At 
length  he  emerged  from  the  bushes,  bearing  a  noble  buck 
upon  his  shoulders.  Advancing  amidst  the  congratulations 
of  his  fellows,  he  came  up  to  the  spot,  and,  with  the  air  of  one 
relieved  from  a  heavy  burden,  threw  down  his  prize  to  the 
ground  before  them.  Of  the  probable  age  of  twenty-six  or 
eight,  he  was  a  man  of  a  very  fine  and  even  majestic  appear- 
ance. Though  tall  and  muscular,  so  compactly  and  finely 
set  were  his  limbs,  that  his  contour  presented  nothing  to  the 
eye  in  the  least  disproportioned  or  ungainly.  His  features 
seemed  to  correspond  in  regularity  of  formation  to  the  rest 
of  his  person,  while  his  countenance  was  rather  of  the  cool 
and  deliberate  cast,  indicative,  however,  of  a  mild,  benevo- 
lent disposition,  as  well  as  a  sound,  reflecting  intellect.  Every 
development,  indeed,  whether  of  his  shapely  head  or  manly 
countenance,  went  to  show  a  strong,  well-balanced  charac- 
ter, and  one  capable  of  action  beyond  the  scope  of  ordinary 
men.  His  dress,  which  was  that  of  a  huntsman,  was  neat — 
not  rich — but  tastefully  arranged  and  well  fitted.  A  ma- 
hogany-stocked rifle,  richly  chased  with  silver,  with  small 
arms  partially  concealed  in  his  dress,  completed  his  equip- 
ments. 

"Heaven  save  me  from  another  such  jaunt,"  were  his  first 
words  after  he  had  thrown  down  his  load  and  recovered  him- 
self a  little;  "a  noble  buck,  indeed,  but  the  chase  has  been 
rather  a  dear  one." 

"I  don^t  see  how  it  could  well  have  been  otherwise,  Cap- 
tain," observed  Selden,  now  evidently  in  high  spirits  and  dis- 
posed for  a  little  merriment — 

"Your  huntsmen,  whenever  a  deer's  in  the  race, 
Liko  your  lovers,  of  course,  must  expect  a  dear  chase." 

"Mine  has  been  somewhat  dearer,  however,  I  thin^,"  re- 
pKed  the  former  with  an  appreciating  smile,  "than  was  neces- 
sary to  give  zest  to  those  savory  trout,  which,  by  the  way,  I 
am  right  glad  to  see  so  nearly  ready  for  the  partaking." 

"Yes,"  rejoined  the  other,  glancing  around  at  the  Indian, 
who  stood  demure  and  silent  in  the  back-ground,  with  his  face 
partly  averted  from  the  company,  "and  yet  I  know  not,  really, 
Captain  Warrington,  but  you  may  have  other  fish  to  fry  first." 


14  THE    GREEN    MOUNTAIN    BOYS. 

'^'And  just  about  the  oddest  fish  too  that  we  have  caught 
to-day.  Captain/'  said  Jones,  instantly  understanding  the  al- 
lusion of  the  last  speaker;  ^'I  rather  think  he  must  be  a  sort 
of  shellfish,  from  the  difficulty  we  found  in  getting  his  mouth 
open." 

"0  ho!"  exclaimed  Warrington,  his  eye  now  for  the  first 
time  resting  on  the  form  of  the  Indian,  and  his  counte- 
nance clearing  up  from  the  puzzled  expression  that  had  come 
over  it  for  the  instant  at  the  enigmatical  words  of  his  friends; 
"a  new  recruit!  that  explains  your  call,  the  wherefore  I  was 
about  to  ask — a  new  recruit  of  doubtful  credentials,  eh?" 

So  saying,  he  advanced  to  the  side  of  the  Indian  youth  and 
attentively  examined  his  features;  while  the  object  of  scrutiny 
stood  perfectl}^  immovable,  and  apparently  unconscious  of 
the  examination  he  was  undergoing,  till  perceiving  by  the 
hesitation  of  the  other  that  he  was  not  likely  to  be  recognized, 
he,  without  looking  up,  or  var^dng  the  expression  of  a  single 
muscle  of  his  face,  quietly  observed: 

"Massa  Cappen  no  remember  N'eshobee — no  remember 
shoot  three  wolf?" 

*^Aha?"  said  the  other,  recalled  by  the  last  allusion;  the 
same  poor  fellow  that  I  so  providentially  came  across,  and  re- 
lieved from  that  savage  pack  of  wolves  last  year,  on  these 
very  mountains?  You  may  well  remember  that  escape,  my 
friend.    But  it  is  strange  I  did  not  know  you." 

"N'eshobee  hunt  all  day,"  resumed  the  Indian,  intent  on 
rehearsing  the  event,  the  remembrance  of  which  seemed  to 
light  up  his  countenance  to  something  like  the  indications 
of  feeling,  and  incline  him  to  unusual  loquacity;  "hunt,  hunt 
— kill  no  deer — dark  come  fast.  ISTow  here  wolf  Vay  out 
there,  howl!  howl!  I^ow  Vay  out  here,  howl!  howl!  Now 
um  come  together,  howl!  howl!  Now  near  off,  howl!  howl! 
ISTow  me  know  what  um  want,  and  climb  small  tree  quick. 
Wolf  come,  five,  six,  hungry,  and  lap  um  mouth.  Me  shoot; 
kill  one,  and  go  to  load  um  up  again — so  no  think  nothing, 
and  drop  um  rifle  low  down — wolf  jump  high,  catch  um  aw^ay 
— now  rifle  all  gone — no  get  um — wolf  get  mad  fast — bite 
um  tree,  gnaw,  gnaw,  wolf  no  do  so  'fore.  Now  tree  begin 
shake,  shake  to  fall  soon.  Now  bend,  bend,  slow  'long  down 
— wolf  jump,  jump,  snap  um  white  teeth,  and  'most  jest  catch 
nm  Neshobee.    Now  hoo!   bang!   one  wolf  kick  over  dead — 


THE    GREEN    MOUNTAIN    BOYS.  15 

Cappen  out  there  in  the  bush.  Shoot  again,  two  dead!  Shoot 
again,  three  dead!  Now  the  rest  two  wolf  begin  to  mistrust 
to  run  away  afore  they  dead  too.  Now  Xeshobee  come  down 
— stay  all  night  in  cave  with  um  Cappen — him  very  good, 
no  forget  um.^^ 

*^Yery  nearly  correct,  I  believe,  Neshobee,"  observed  War- 
rington, as  the  Indian  closed  his  recital,  the  longest,  perhaps 
he  ever  made  in  his  life,  for  unluckily,  it  may  be,  for  the 
romance  of  our  tale,  Neshobee  was  no  Logan  or  Eed  Jacket, 
either  in  length  of  speech,  or  that  peculiar  eloquence,  which 
most  of  our  writers  seem  to  delight  in  attributing  to  the  sons 
of  the  forest;  "very  nearly  correct,  but  are  you  out  on  an- 
other hunt  in  this  quarter,  or  does  other  business  bring  you 
here  at  this  time?'' 

"No  much  hunt,  me  come  f  or.'^ 

"What  then?" 

"Missus  Story  talk  um  on  paper  for  Cappen  better  nor 
Neshobee  sa}',"  replied  the  Indian,  handing  Warrington  a 
small  ding}^  scrap  of  paper. 

The  latter  after  running  hastily  over  the  contents  of  the 
billet,  which  caused  his  eye  to  kindle  \^ith  enthusiasm  as  he 
read,  immediately  turned  to  the  company,  and,  with  a  cheer- 
ful, animated  air  observed,  "it  is  from  our  friend.  Widow 
Story,  of  the  CVeek  down  here,  and  contains  news  of  interest, 
my  boys — shall  I  read  it  to  you?" 

"Aye,  aye,  Captain,"  was  the  eager  response. 

"Listen  then." 

"Capt.  W. — I  teal  out  the  blank  leaf  of  my  bible  to  say, 
'the  Philistines  be  upon  thee,  Sampson.'  They  came  over 
the  Creek  somewhere  north  of  here,  and,  after  a  short  con- 
sultation near  the  edge  of  my  clearing,  from  vvhich  I  luckily 
espied  them,  struck  off  towards  the  lake.  Munroe,  as  usual, 
heads  the  part}',  ten  in  number,  as  I  counted.  There  are  five 
of  you,  at  least;  and  that  is  enough,  if  you  are  of  the  stuff  I 
think  3-0U,  to  attend  to  confirming  our  titles  in  this  neigh- 
borhood. My  messenger  is  a  chance  one,  but  true  and  friend- 
ly, and  may  be  enlisted,  I  think,  for  the  night's  work,  if 
needed. 

God  speed  you  all, 

Ann  Storv." 


16  THE    GREEN    MOUNTAIN    BOYS. 

The  spirited  epistle  was  received  b}^  tlie  company  with  a 
loud  ''hurra  for  the  widow!''  and  notwithstanding  it  brought 
them  the  startling  intelligence  that  the  sherific  of  Albany 
county^  with  an  armed  force  of  twice  their  own  number,  was 
on  the  march  to  seize  them,  two  of  whom,  at  least,  were  known 
to  be  under  sentence  of  outlawr}^  for  former  resistance  to  the 
i^ew  York  authorities,  while  attempting  to  execute  their  cruel 
mandates  on  the  persons  or  pro2:)erty  of  the  settlers — ^not- 
withstanding this,  the  news  was  received  with  the  liveliest 
expressions  of  joy  and  enthusiasm.  An  escape  from  their  pur- 
suers into  the  forest,  or  on  to  the  water  in  their  canoe,  which 
was  the  only  one  in  the  lake,  they  well  knew  might  easily  be 
effected.  But  this  was  no  part  of  the  plan  of  this  resolute 
little  band  of  Green  Mountain  Boys;  nor  was  the  possibility 
of  their  being  overpowered  and  taken  deemed  bj^  them  scarce 
more  vrorthy  of  their  consideration.  1'heir  object  was  the 
punishment  of  their  foes,  for  the  accomplishment  of  v/hich 
this  was  hailed  by  them  all  as  a  golden  o^oportunity.  From 
the  unwonted  boldness  with  which  this  noted  troubler  of  the 
Grants  was  attempting  to  push  so  far  into  the  interior  vrith 
so  small  a  number  of  men,  all  of  whom  were  supposed  to  be 
unacquainted  with  the  forest  in  this  part  of  the  country,  it 
was  rightly  conjectured  that  he  must  have  been  apprized  by 
some  traitorous  settler;  not  only  of  the  exact  situation  of  the 
present  rendezvous,  but  also  of  the  number  of  those  occupy- 
ing it;  and  for  similar  reasons  it  was  concluded  that  this  per- 
son must  now  be  with  the  approaching  enemy,  acting  as 
guide  in  conducting  them  to  the  spot,  where  they  doubtless 
anticipated  taking  their  intended  victims  by  complete  sur- 
prise, and  then  hurrying  them  by  night  over  the  country  to 
the  British  fort  at  Ticonderoga,  before  the  settlers  could  be 
rallied  for  a  rescue.  In  this  opinion  our  band  were  confirmed 
by  the  suspicious  appearance  of  a  man,  who,  as  we  intimated, 
had  been  seen  the  evening  before  lurking  round  the  shores 
of  the  lake,  and  w^ho,  it  was  now  scarcely  longer  to  be  doubt- 
ed, was  a  spy,  dogging  them  to  such  place  as  they  might  select 
for  their  encampment.  Next  to  the  sheriff,  therefore,  and 
even  before  him,  was  this  person,  whose  offense  was  consid- 
ered the  most  heinous  of  the  two,  particularly  marked  for 
punishment,  and  it  was  determined  to  identify  and  seize  him, 
if  possible,  and,  whoever  he  might  prove,  make  him  an  ex- 
ample to  all  future  traitors.    To  retain  their  stronghold,  the 


THE    GREEN   MOUNTAIN    BOYS.  17 

cavern,  however  defensible  it  might  be,  was  no  object  with 
oiir  party,  as  their  leader  had  already  determined  to  leave  it 
the  following  morning  to  proceed  on  the  main  purpose  of 
their  excursion,  which  was  to  break  up  an  establishment  of 
their  opponents,  who  had  obtained  a  strong  foothold  at  the 
lower  falls  of  Otter  Creek,  and  to  seize  a  York  surveyor,  lo- 
cating lands  in  that  vicinity — from  which  purpose  they  had 
only  turned  aside  for  a  day  or  two  to  give  others  an  oppor- 
tunity to  join  them  on  the  lake,  the  appointed  rendezvous, 
and  a  pleasant  spot  for  emjDloying  the  interim  in  fishing  and 
hunting.  Accordingly  it  was  soon  concluded  to  make  no 
regular  defense  of  the  cave,  but,  using  it  only  so  far  as  might 
best  favor  them  in  their  object  of  discomfiting  the  enemy, 
the  modes  of  doing  which  were  yet  to  be  devised,  leave  it  to 
their  possession,  and  quit  the  place  that  night.  Their  game  and 
such  movables  as  were  not  immediately  wanted,  were  there- 
fore now  transferred  to  the  boat,  which  was  removed  to  a 
secret  landing,  w^here  the  party  were  ordered  to  repair  at  the 
signal-call  of  the  whistle.  These  brief  arrangements  having 
been  completed,  and  the  young  Indian,  who  seemed  to  enter 
with  great  spirit  into  the  enterprise,  being  employed  to  stand 
on  the  look-out,  the  company,  with  their  loaded  rifles  by  their 
side,  sat  down  to  their  sylvan  meal,  over  which  they  discussed 
in  gleeful  mood,  the  various  and  ingenious  methods  w^hieh 
were  successively  proposed  for  the  reception  and  chastisement 
of  their  assailants,  who  were  expected  to  make  their  appear- 
ance as  soon  as  it  was  fairly  dark. 


18  THE   GREEN   MOUNTAIN   BOYS. 


CHAPTER  II. 


"Thus,  spite  of  prayers,  her  schemes  pursuing, 
She  went  on  still  to  work  our  ruin; 
Annul'd  our  charters  of  releases. 
And  tore  our  title-deeds  to  pieces; 
Then  signed  her  warrants  of  ejection, 
And  gallows  raised  to  stretch  our  necks  on; 
And  straightway  sent,  like  dogs  to  bait  us, 
Munroe,  with  posse  comitatus." 


Leaving  our  little  band  of  Green  Mountain  Boys  to  dis- 
cuss and  settle  the  manner  of  receiving  their  expected  visitors, 
and  to  make  their  dispositions  for  carrying  sneh  plan,  as 
should  be  finally  adopted,  into  effect,  we  will  now  change  the 
scene  a  little,  and"  introducing  the  reader  to  those  visitors 
themselves,  accompany  him  and  them  to  the  scene  of  action. 

In  a  thickly  wooded  swamp,  near  the  northern  extremity 
of  the  lake  before  described,  were  assembled  a  group  of  ten 
men,  awaiting  the  approach  of  darkness,  which  was  already 
beginning  to  settle  in  successive  and  fast  increasing  shades 
upon  the  low  lands  and  glens  along  the  foot  of  the  mountain. 
They  were  all  armed,  though  variously — some  having  mus- 
kets, some  large  pistols,  and  some  only  oaken  cudgels.  Apart 
from  the  rest  stood  their  leader,  a  stern,  rough  looking  per- 
sonage, engaged  in  a  low,  earnest  conversation  with  another 
individual,  of  the  apparent  age  of  twenty-five,  whose  dress 
and  general  demeanor  seemed  to  forbid,  the  conclusion  that 
he  was  either  a  common  follower,  or  one  in  any  command; 
and  yet,  from  the  interest  he  manifested  in  the  business  in 
hand,  it  was  evident  he  was  in  some  way  connected  with  the 
expedition.  As  the  last  named  person  may  occupy  consid- 
erable space  in  our  tale,  we  will  iDause  to  note  his  personal 
appearance  more  particularly:  he  was  of  about  the  middle 
height,  well  made,  though  of  rather  slight  proportions.  His 
features,  though  regular,  were  common-place  and  inexpres- 
sive, with  the  exception  of  a  pair  of  small,  twinkling,  black 
eyes,  in  which  an  observant  spectator  might  often  read  mean^ 


THE    GREEN    MOUNTAIN    BOYS.  19 

ing  considerably  at  variance  with,  the  import  of  his  language, 
his  plausible  manners,  and  the  obsequious,  smirking  smile, 
which  he  usually  assumed  vviiile  addressing  those  with  whom 
he  had  a  point  to  carry.  The  construction  of  his  head  seemed 
to  be  somewhat  peculiar — his  forehead,  which  was  very  tall, 
being  nearly  in  the  shape  of  a  triangle,  with  the  base  resting 
on  the  eyebrows,  and  the  sides  narrowing  to  an  apex  at  the 
hair  above;  while  his  head,  as  far  back  as  the  ears,  swelling 
upwards  into  large  protuberances,  might  be  better  represented 
by  a  triangle  reversed.  His  dress  was  a  finer  texture  than 
that  of  any  of  his  present  associates,  or  that  ordinarily  worn 
by  the  settlers,  and  his  whole  appearance,  indeed,  denoted 
some  connection  with  the  more  wealthy  and  fashionable 
classes  of  society. 

"You  say,  Sherwood,"  observed  the  former  of  the  two  last 
mentioned  persons,  at  that  part  of  their  dialogue  which  it 
concerns  us  to  repeat:  "you  say  that,  from  having  been  your- 
self at  this  cave,  you  know  all  the  surrounding  localities?'^ 

"Exactly — just  as  I  described  to  you  when  I  reached  you 
last  night.  There  can  be  no  mistaking  the  place.  They  are 
still  there,  as  is  evident  from  the  smoke  which  we  saw  rising 
over  the  spot  Just  now,  while  passing  the  head  of  the  lake. 
The  path  is  now  plain,  and  the  game  sure,  without  further 
guidance;  so  I  think,  as  I  began  to  suggest  to  your  honor  a 
few  minutes  ago,  that  you  may  now  dispense  with  my  fur- 
ther attendance.  If  I  should  be  seen  by  any  of  their  part]^,  I 
should  be  delicately  situated  here  in  the  settlement." 

"To  the  devil  with  your  delicacy!  Why,  man,  do  you  think 
I  am  going  on  in  the  dark,  stumbling  over  logs  and  through 
bogs,  without  a  guide?  Even  you  are  none  too  good  a  one  for 
this  cursed  hole;  but  such  as  you  are,  in  the  king's  name  I 
retain  you;  so  not  another  word  about  quitting  us  till  the 
scoundrels  are  secured." 

"I  am  certainly  aware,  Mr.  Munroe,  of  the  importance  of 
securing  this 'Warrington,  so  great  a  disturber  of  the  public 
peace,  but — " 

"Disturber!  doubly  damned  rebel!  Why,  no  man  in  the 
settlement  has  caused  me  so  much  trouble,  considering  his 
audacious  assault  on  me,  and  all.  It  will  do  me  more  good 
to  see  him  hung  than  to  sit  at  the  king's  banquet." 

"0,  certainly — it  would  me;  and  I  would  by  all  means  aid 
you  even  to  the  caioture,  if  your  honor's  well  known  sagacity 


20  THE    GREEN    MOUNTAIN    BOYS. 

and  braver}^  on  such  occasions  did  not  render  my  assistance 
wholly  unnecessary." 

"Well,  well,  Jake,"  replied  the  sheriff,  relaxing  a  little 
from  his  wonted  ronghness  at  the  flattering  expressions  of  the 
other,  "suppose  I  am  all  that  yon  say,  it  won't  serve  me  in 
finding  a  fox's  hole  in  these  woods  any  better  than  the  in- 
stinct of  any  country  booby,  nor  half  so  Avell.  I  tell  you, 
Sherwood,  you  must  conduct  us  to  the  place,  at  least;  for  we 
shall  then  have  enough  to  do  to  take  the  fellow,  and,  what  is 
worse,  to  get  him  through  the  settlement  to  Ticonderoga. 
AVhy,  there  is  not  an  old  woman  in  all  the  Grants  but  will 
fight  for  the  scoundrel  as  if  he  was  one  of  her  own  brats." 

"0,  there  can  be  no  great  trouble,  the  surprise  will  be  so 
great;  but  as  your  honor  desires  it,  I  Vtdll  go  so  far  as  to  point 
out  the  place,  on  condition  that  I  then  be  allowed  to  keep 
out  of  sight." 

"Yes,  but  your  half  of  the  reward  for  taking  the  fellows, 
for  you  say  that  there  is  at  least  one  outlaw  besides  Warring- 
ton; you  won't  claim  all  that,  unless  you  help  us  through  the 
whole  affair,  will  you?" 

"Your  honor  forgets  that  I  was  only  to  conduct  you  so  far 
as  to  point  out  their  retreat." 

"Have  it  your  own  way,  then — but  I  hate  to  see  a  fellow  so 
keen  on  the  chase,  and  then  become  so  devilish  prudent  the 
moment  he  approaches  the  game,"  grumbled  Munroe,  turn- 
ing away  to  give  some  orders  to  his  men,  preparatory  to  re- 
suming their  march. 

It  having  now  become  sufficiently  dark  for  their  purpose, 
the  party  were  put  in  motion  for  the  prosecution  of  their  en- 
terprise. And  after  striking  a  light,  and  procuring  some  ma- 
terials for  torches  from  the  pine  knots  gathered  in  the  sur- 
rounding windfalls,  they  set  forward  towards  the  place  of 
their  destination,  then  about  a  mile  distant.  Keeping  as  far 
from  the  shore  of  the  lake  as  the  nature  of  the  ground  would 
permit,  lest  the  gleams  of  their  light,  striking  across  the  water 
to  the  vicinity  of  the  cave,  should  betray  their  approach,  they 
pursued  their  way  along  the  foot  of  the  mountain  with  all 
possible  silence  and  caution;  while  the  glare  of  their  torches, 
glittering  on  the  points  of  the  crags,  and  thrown  back  on  to 
the  dark  forms,  and  eager  and  flushed  visages  of  the  part}^ 
gliding  stealthily  along  in  Indian  file  beneath  the  overhang- 
ing cliffs,  like  tigers  for  their  pre]^  gave  them  a  singularly 


THE    GREEN    MOUNTAIN    BOYS.  21 

wild  and  most  unearthly  appearance.  At  length  they  arrived 
at  the  sharp  knoll,  which,  running  down  from  the  main  ridge 
above  to  the  water,  had  so  far  screened  their  approach,  and 
enabled  them  to  advance  with  their  lights  unseen  within  a 
few  hundred  yards  of  the  cavern.  Here  they  m.ade  a  brief 
halt  to  arrange  their  forces  for  the  onset.  As  soon  as  this  was 
effected,  Munroe  and  Sherwood  crept  noiselessly  over  the 
intervening  rise,  followed  at  short  intervals  by  the  rest  of  the 
party,  with  the  exception  of  one  man  left  behind  in  charge 
of  the  torches.  Having  descended  to  the  level  beyond,  they 
again  paused  to  listen  and  reconnoiter  before  venturing  any 
farther.  All  was  dark  and  silent  before  them.  And  conclud- 
ing that  their  intended  victims  had  retired  within  the  cave 
and  v/ere,  probably,  by  this  time,  reposing  in  unsuspecting 
slumbers,  the}^  now  congratulated  themselves  on  a  certain  and 
easy  conquest,  and,  with  freshened  impulse,  once  more  began 
to  move  briskly  forward;  when  the  loud  whoo!  whoo! — 
whoo!  whoo!  of  the  "dismal  bird  of  night,"  or  of  something 
strikingly  resembling  it  in  note,  proceeding  from  some  point 
above,  came  pealing  through  the  darkness,  with  fearful  dis- 
tinctness, to  the  ears  of  the  company.  All  gave  an  involun- 
tary start.  Even  the  stout-hearted  Munroe,  for  the  instant, 
could  scarcely  avoid  quaking  at  the  strangely  dismal  notes  that 
thus  broke  from  utter  stillness  so  unexpectedly  upon  them. 
The  next  moment,  however,  as  the  consciousness  of  the  insig- 
nificant cause  of  their  affright  came  over  them,  a  half-stifled 
giggling  ran  through  the  company;  while  their  leader  utter- 
ing a  dry  "umph!  scared  at  a  damned  owl!"  motioned  Sher- 
wood to  proceed.  '  But  the  latter,  more  accustomed  to  the 
notes  of  the  supposed  animal,  and  thinking  he  detected  some- 
thing not  quite  natural  in  the  sounds  they  had  just  heard, 
became  secretly  impressed  with  the  fears  of  an  ambush,  and, 
without  imj^arting  his  suspicions,  he  hastily  pointed  out  to 
the  sheriff  the  mouth  of  the  cave,  whose  dim  outlines  had 
now  become  discernible,  and  instantly  returning  to  the  rear, 
quickly  retreated  over  the  hill.  AVith  a  few  muttered  expres- 
sions of  contempt  at  the  flight  of  the  wary  and  timid  guide, 
Munroe  once  more  set  forward  with  the  determined  motions 
of  one  who  is  resolved  not  again  to  be  interrupted  by  any 
slight  causes.  And  being  now  promptly  followed  by  his  men, 
he  soon,  and  without  further  obstacle,  arrived  at  the  mouth  of 
the  cave,  and,  bringing  up  his  forces,  immediately  surround- 


22  THE    GREEN    MOUNTAIN    BOYS. 

ed  it.  Here  they  all  paused,  standing  motionless  and  silent, 
listening  long  and  intensely.  Everything  within  and  around 
wasas  still  as  if  no  living  being  v/as  within  a  mile  of  the  place. 

''Hallo!"  at  length  sharply  uttered  the  sheriff,  after  wait- 
ing till  he  began  to  doubt  whether  his  anticipated  captives 
had  escaped,  or  were  all  snugly  asleep  in  the  cave,  '4iallo! 
within  there!" 

^'Hallo,  without  there!"  was  the  ready  reply  from  the  cav- 
ern. 

^'Ha!  ye  rebel  dogs!"  exultingly  exclaimed  Munroe;  '^you 
are  there,  are  ye?  We  have  kenneled  ye  at  last,  then,  j^ow 
hear  me — I  command  ye  to  surrender  yourselves  to  the  king's 
warrant,  every  scoundrel  of  ye — but  first  of  all,  Charles  War- 
rington— do  you  hear  the  summons?" 

"We  hear  the  summons,  and  well  comj^rehend  its  import," 
coolly  replied  the  voice  from  the  cave,  which  was'  evidently 
that  of  the  person  especiall}^  named  by  the  sheriff;  "but  touch- 
ing your  last  demand,  mine  ancient  friend — for  in  joiix  voice 
I  think  I  recognize  the  person  with  whom  I  once  exchanged 
civilities  in  the  southern  part  of  our  favored  settlement — 
touching  your  last  demand,  I  beg  leave  to  observe,  that  being 
somewhat  personally  interested  myself  in  the  decision  to  be 
made  in  regard  to  the  requirement,  I  would  respectfully  refer 
you  to  my  friends  here,  who  will  doubtless  give  you  such  an- 
swer as  their  unbiased  judgments  shall  dictate." 

"'Do  you  think  to  dally  with  me,  scoundrel  ?"  stormed  Mun- 
roe, nettled  at  the  provoking  coolness  of  his  antagonist,  and 
especially,  at  his  ironical  allusion  to  a  personal  chastisement 
received  from  his  hands  the  year  before;  "such  attempts  will 
but  little  avail  you'll  find.  JSTor  will  it  be  of  the  least  use, 
let  me  tell  you  all,  to  think  of  contending  against  our  num- 
bers: and  the  longer  joii  hold  out  the  worse  it  shall  be  for 
ye.  So  yield  yourselves  instantly,  or,  so  help  me  Beelzebub, 
every  dog  of  you  shall  swing  for  it." 

"Assertions,"  observed  Selden,  who  being  Warrington's 
only  companion  in  the  cave,  now  took  up  the  discourse  on  the 
hint  of  his  superior;  "assertions,  sir  sheriff,  sometimes,  un- 
fortunately, are  more  easily  made  than  proved.  You  may  not 
find  us,  perhaps,  so  entirely  unprepared  for  your  visit  as  you 
have  expected,  notwithstanding  our  warder  thought  fit,  in 
his  owl-like  wisdom,  to  be  somewhat  tardy  in  announcing 
your  approach.     It  may  not  be  prudent  in  us,  however,  to 


THE    GREEN    MOUNTAIN    BOYS.  23 

speak  wholly  without  reserve  in  this  matter,  as  we  know  not 
how  much  aid  your  honor  may  expect  from  the  friend  you 
last  invoked." 

The  intimations  which  they  gathered  from  these  replies,  to- 
gether vvdth  the  jeering  calmness  attending  them,  which 
seemed  to  imply  a  sense  of  security  in  the  assailed  from  re- 
sources unknown  to  the  assailants,  considerably  dampened 
the  ardor  of  the  sheriff  and  his  hand;  and  they  began  to  sus- 
pect that  their  triumphs  might  not  prove  so  cheaply  won  as 
they  had  anticipated.  The  men,  indeed,  now  began  to  show 
symptoms  of  fear  and  uneasiness  at  standing  longer  before 
the  mouth  of  the  cave,  from  which,  for  aught  they  could  see 
or  know,  a  dozen  loaded  rifles  might  be  pointed  against  them; 
and  their  leader  shouted  loudly  to  the  man  left  in  the  rear, 
directing  him  to  come  on  with  lights,  and  declaring  at  the 
same  time  with  a  tremendous  oath,  that  if  the  stubborn  ras- 
cals didn't  instantly  yield,  he  would  send  a  volley  of  balls 
in  among  them,  and  if  that  failed,  he  would  smoke  them  out 
like  so  many  burroughed  foxes.  He  was  not  allowed,  how- 
ever, much  time  to  attempt  the  fulfillment  of  his  menaces; 
for  the  Green  Mountain  Boys,  two  of  whom  onlj^,  as  before 
mentioned,  were  in  the  cave,  the  rest  being  stationed  in  the 
nearest  surrounding  coverts,  now  deemed  it  time  to  begin 
their  plan  of  operations.  Suddenly  a  fearful  screech,  some- 
thing between  that  of  a  man  and  a  wild  brute,  issuing  from 
the  thicket  above  the  cave,  resounded  through  the  forest, 
sending  its  startling  thrill  to  the  very  hearts  of  the  appalled 
and  astonished  assailants.  All  eyes  were  involuntarily  turned 
upwards  to  the  spot  from  which  these  terrific  sounds  seemed 
to  proceed. 

''A  catamount!  a  catamount !''  wildly  shouted  several  of] 
the  party. 

"Where?    where?"  eagerly  exclaimed  others. 

"There!  up  there  in  the  fork  of  that  tree!"  hurriedly  re- 
plied the  former,  pointing  to  the  top  of  a  leaning  tree  that 
projected  nearly  over  the  mouth  of  the  cave,  in  a  broad  fork 
of  which  the  outlines  of  a  dark  body,  as  of  some  large  ani- 
mal crouching  for  a  leap  upon  his  pre}',  with  great  fiery 
eye-balls  glaring  down  upon  them,  v/as  sufficiently  discerni- 
ble to  justify  their  alarm. 

"He  moves!"  cried  one,  "hark!   hear  him  fixing  his  claws 


24  THE    GREEN    MOUNTAIN    BOYS. 

in  the  bark!'   There^  he  stirs  again!   look  out!   he's  going  to 
leap  down  upon  us — fire!   quick^  all  hands,  fire!" 

'"Hold!  hold!"  shouted  Munroe,  the  suspicion  of  a  trick 
now  for  the  first  time  flashing  across  his  mind.  But  the  com- 
mand came  too  late;  for  while  the  words  were  in  his  mouth, 
every  gun  and  pistol  in  the  party  except  his  own,  were  dis- 
charged at  the  object  of  their  terror,  which  was  seen,  in  the 
expiring  flash,  to  bound  out  from  the  tree  directly  over  the 
place  where  they  stood;  and  all,  in  their  eagerness  to  avoid  I 
the  clutches  of  the  leaping  animal,  well  known  to  be  terrible 
when  wounded,  even  if  in  the  last  agonies  of  death,  broke 
away,  and  fled  in  confusion  from  the  spot,  wholly  unmindful 
of  their  duty  in  guarding  the  mouth  of  the  cave,  and  every- 
thing else,  but  their  own  saf et}^,  in  the  general  panic  that  had 
seized  them.  A  momentary  pause  followed  the  explosion  of 
the  fire-arms,  in  which  nothing  was  heard  save  the  hasty 
scrambling  of  the  terrified  Yorkers  in  their  eager  efforts  to 
escape.  In  an  instant,  however,  a  rushing  from  other  quar- 
ters v/as  heard — dark  forms  were  seen  sw^iftly  gliding  from 
the  cave  and  the  thickets  above,  in  the  direction  of  the  re- 
treating party,  among  whom,  in  a  moment  more,  a  cry  of  dis- 
may rose  wildly  on  the  air.  Munroe  and  three  of  his  men  were 
suddenly  seized  round  their  waists  or  legs,  from  behind,  by 
the  iron  grasp  of  grappling  arms,  and,  being  lifted  from  the 
ground,  were  upborne  with  resistless  force  and  rapidity  toward 
the  shore  of  the  lake;  all  of  them  but  their  leader  verily  be- 
lieving, in  the  fright  and  confusion  of  the  moment,  that  it 
was  the  catamount,  whose  fearful  image  was  still  uppermost 
in  their  minds,  that  had  seized  them  and  was  bearing  them 
ofi  in  his  grasp. 

"Help!  help  here!  He  has  got  me!  for  God's  sake  help 
me!"  screamed  one  in  an  agony  of  terror. 

"Murder!"   exclaimed  another;   Oh!   get  him  off — ^get  him  J 
off!    murder!   murder!"  " 

"Oh!  aw!"  cried  the  third  in  a  yell  of  despair;  "he  has  got 
his  claws  in  my  throat — he'll  kill  me — he  will!  he  will!  j^ah! 
yah!" 

^funroe  alone,  of  all  the  thus  oddly  captured  party  was 
mute.  Rightly  judging  the  character  of  the  foe  into  whose 
lianrls  he  had  fallen,  and  boiliiig  with  silent  rage  he  made  the 
most  desperate  struggles  to  free  himself  from  the  vise-like 
grasp  of  his  captor,  who,  he  at  once  concluded  from  his  great 


I'HE   GREEN   MOUNTAIN   BOYS.  25 

strength,  the  eft'ects  of  which  he  had  before  experienced, 
could  be  no  other  than  Yv'arrington.  But  wholly  failing  in 
this  attempt,  and  finding  himself  still  carried  rapidly  on- 
ward, he  knew  not  to  what  destination,  he  next  tried  to  dis- 
engage his  dirk  from  its  sheath,  in  which  it  was  confined  be- 
neath the  grappling  arm  of  his  opponent.  Before  succeed- 
ing in  this,  ho^vever,  and  while  intent  only  on  his  murderous 
design,  he  was  borne  by  his  intended  victim  to  the  margin 
of  the  water,  and,  with  a  giant  effort,  hurled  headlong  over 
the  bank.  The  loud  splashing  that  succeeded,  told  that  he 
was  now  struggling  in  the  embrace  of  a  different,  though  not 
a  much  more  comfortable  antagonist;  while  three  more  heavy 
plunges,  following  in  irregular  succession  along  the  bank, 
still  further  announced  that  the  vanquished  sherifi'  was  not 
without  the  company  of  a  good  share  of  his  friends  to  con- 
sole him  in  the  discomforts  of  the  new  element,  into  which 
they  all  had  been  so  suddenly  and  unexpectedly  translated. 
The  shrill  notes  of  Warrington's  signal  whistle  nov/  sounded 
the  preconcerted  retreat.  In  a  moment  more  the  victorious 
party  w^ere  assembled  at  the  appointed  landing — in  another, 
they  were  embarked;  while  their  boat,  by  the  strong  push  of 
the  last  man  springing  in,  was  sent,  by  the  single  impulse,  so 
far  into  the  lake  as  to  put  a  safe  distance  between  them  and 
their  foes,  now  beginning  to  rally,  with  cries  of  rage,  on  the 
shore.  An  uncontrollable  peal  of  laughter,  ending  in  three 
loud  and  lively  cheers,  now  burst  from  the  Green  Mountain 
Boys,  rending  the  welkin  above,  and  startling  the  deep  re- 
cesses of  the  surrounding  forests  with  the  triumphant  shout. 

'^The  battle  being  over,"  observed  Warrington,  after  the 
noise  of  their  merriment  and  exultation  had  measurably  sub- 
sided; "let  us  now  turn  our  attention  to  the  wounded  and 
missing." 

"All  whole  of  skin,  I  imagine,"  said  Selden,  "though  here 
is  one.  Smith,  I  believe  it  is,  who  comes  from  the  fight,  as  near 
as  I  can  discover,  like  the  Benjaminite  of  the  Scripture,  just 
escaped  from  the  Philistines,  with  head  bare  and  garments 
rent.'' 

"I  must  leave  my  old  otter-skin  cap  in  their  hands,  I 
s'pose,"  coolly  replied  Smith;  "I  had  to  take  it  to  finish  off 
the  catamount's  head  with;  for  I  couldn't  fix  the  fox-fire 
for  the  eyes  into  the  end  of  that  bundle  of  dr}^  grass,  that  I 
made  the  body  of,  so  as  to  look  anyhow  natural  without  it, 


26  THE    GREEN    MOUNTAIN    BOYS. 

and  ^vlien  I  pushed  the  thing  out  of  the  crotch,  as  I  stood 
behind  the  tree  with  my  pole,  I  gave  it  such  a  hoist  over  into 
the  bushes  among  the  scared  devils,  that  ^twas  out  of  the 
question  to  think  of  looking  for  the  cap,  and  grabbing  one 
of  the  scamps,  too.  But  as  to  my  coat  being  tore  here  a  little, 
I  don't  valley  it  a  fraction,  seeing  as  how  the  ragamufhn  I 
hove  into  the  lake  got  pretty  well  choked  to  pay  for  it." 

"Ah,  you  have  done  well.  Smith,"  said  the  leader;  "all  of 
you,  indeed,  have  done  nobly;  but  of  that  hereafter — one  of 
our  number  I  believe  is  missing — which  is  it?" 

"It  is  Pete  Jones,"  replied  Brown. 

"And  the  Indian  chap,"  added  Smith. 

"The  Indian,"  resumed  AYarrington,  "after  announcing 
the  enemy  for  us  b}^  his  admirable  imitation  of  the  owl,  de- 
parted by  himself,  I  presume.  As  near  as  I  could  gather  from 
him,  he  did  not  wish  to  be  known  as  acting  against  the  York- 
ers. He  probably  lives  with  some  family  in  the  vicinity,  who 
are  trying  to  stand  neutral  in  this  warfare,  and  who  have  cau- 
tioned him  to  govern  himself  accordingly.  His  absence, 
therefore,  does  not  surprise  me.  But  what  can  have  become 
of  Jones.  He  surely,  is  not  a  fellow  to  be  easily  ensnared,  or 
overpow^ered." 

"I  rather  suspect,"  replied  Brown,  he  is  after  that  traitor. 
As,  when  the  Yorkers  were  creeping  on  toward  the  cave,  he 
whispered  to  me  he  thought  he  saw  a  fellow  pointing  out  the 
place,  and  slipping  back  over  the  hill,  who,  he  guessed,  was 
the  one — and  the  last  I  saw  of  Pete  he  was  working  off  that 
way.  Suppose,  Captain,  that  we  row  along,  so  as  to  stand 
olf  the  shore,  in  that  direction,  to  be  ready  to  take  him  in, 
should  he  give  the  word?" 

In  pursuance  of  this  prudent  suggestion,  the  boat  was  im- 
mediately headed  round  to  the  north,  and  rowed  noiselessly 
along  the  shore  in  the  direction  supposed  to  be  taken  by  their 
]inssing  companion.  They  had  made  but  little  progress,  how- 
ever, before  they  were  startled  by  the  sudden  flash  and  sharp 
report  of  a  pistol,  in  a  thicket  near  the  shore,  about  a  furlong 
ahead. 

"There  goes  trouble  for  poor  Jones,  I  fear — the  dastard 
has  attempted  his  life!"  cried  Warrington,  in  the  varying 
tones  of  fear  for  the  result,  and  indignation  for  the  attempt; 
"but  if  help  be  of  any  further  use  to  him,  he  shall  have  it.    So, 


THE    GREEN    MOUNTAIN    BOYS.  27 

men^  pull  for  it!  pull  for  the  spot  with  every  nerve  you  have 
got,  or  the  Yorkers  will  be  there  before  us." 

In  an  instant  the  canoe,  almost  leaping  from  its  element  at 
every  stroke  of  the  excited  and  strong-armed  oarsmen,  was 
surging  through  the  waters,  with  bird-like  velocity,  towards 
the  place.  As  Warrington  had  predicted,  the  enemy  on 
shore,  on  hearing  the  report  of  the  pistol,  immediately  started 
for  this  new  scene  of  action.  And,  quickly  perceiving  their 
opponents  on  the  lake  making  rapidly  for  the  spot,  they  re- 
doubled their  speed,  and  rushed  on  as  fast  as  the  obstacles 
of  the  woods,  and  the  wet  clothes  and  benumbed  limbs  of 
those  who  had  been  ducked,  would  permit,  to  arrive  in  time 
to  assist,  or  rescue,  as  the  case  might  require,  their  absent 
guide,  whom  they  readily  concluded  to  be  an  actor  in  the 
fracas,  and  revenge  themselves,  if  possible,  on  the  whole  band 
of  their  foes,  for  the  sad  discomfiture  Just  experienced.  The 
race  between  the  two  contending  parties  was  a  close  one.  The 
Green  Mountain  Boys,  however,  were  again  in  fortune.  Their 
boat  came  whirling  up  to  the  shore,  adjoining  the  scene  of 
action,  while  the  foremost  of  the  enemy  was  yet  fifty  yards 
distant. 

''You  may  kick  till  all  is  blue,'^  muttered  Jones,  whose  tall 
form  came  at  that  instant  peering  from  the  thicket,  while 
with  irregular  motions  he  made  toward  the  boat,  bearing 
bolt  upright  in  his  arms  before  him  his  grappled  foe,  who  was 
struggling  with  terrible  violence,  and  kicking  desperately 
against  every  tree  within  reach  of  his  feet,  with  the  hope  of 
retarding  the  progress'of  his  captor  till  succor  arrived;  "you 
may  kick,  and  be  hanged!  but  you  have  jest  got  to  go,  my 
sweet  lad,  and  into  a  little  better  company,  too,  than  you 
hoped  for,  I  guess.  N'o  help  for  it — so  in  with  you — there! — 
now  make  yourself  comfortable,  friend,"  concluded  the  woods- 
man, ]3itching  his  captive  headlong  into  the  boat,  and  leaping 
in  himself,  just  in  time  to  escape  the  pursuers,  now  close  at 
his  heels. 

"Escaped  again,  by  .the  pains  of  tophet!"  exclaimed  the 
enraged  Munroe  from  the  bank,  as  the  boat,  previously  headed 
round,  shot  out  into  the  lake  beyond  the  reach  of  the  twice 
baffled  Yorkers;  "fire!  fire!  upon  the  damned  rascals!" 

The  command  was  scarcely  uttered,  before  Jones,  having 
as  quick  as  thought  again  grappled  his  captive,  and  faced 
roun4  toward  the  shore,  was  holding  the  deprecating  victim 


28  THE    GREEN    MOUNTAIN    BOYS. 

before  liim  in  the  stern^  so  as  to  cover  the  range  of  the  ex- 
pected volley. 

"Let  drive  there!''  exclaimed  Pete,  with  the  utmost  non- 
chalance, "yon  needn't  feel  any  delicacy,  gentlemen,  for  I'll 
agree  to  take  all  the  bnllets  you'll  send  through  this  beauti- 
ful target  I'm  holding  for  you." 

"Don't  fire!  for  God's  sake  don't  let  'em  fire,  Munroe!" 
screamed  the  struggling  and  terrified  prisoner. 

"You  need  not  be  much  alarmed,  I  think,  fellow,"  said 
Warrington;  "the  sheriff's  pistols  must  be  rather  too  wet  to 
be  very  dangerous,  and  as  to  the  arms  of  the  rest,  which  were 
all  discharged  at  the  catamount,  we  shall  have  but  little  to  fear 
from  them  by  the  time  they  can  be  loaded." 

"I  mistrusted  as  much,  myself,"  observed  Jones,  releasing 
the  prisoner;  "but  I  thought  I  would  scare  the  fellow  a  lit- 
tle, for  his  scurvy  treatment  to  me." 

"The  pistol  we  heard,  then,  was  meant,  as  v\' e  suspected,  for 
you?"  asked  the  leader. 

"0,  yes,"  replied  the  other,  carelessly;  "to  be  sure  he 
showed  the  best  good  will  in  the  world  to  make  a  hole  in  me; 
but  I  shouldn't  have  laid  that  up  much,  seeing  he  missed  his 
aim,  which  is  a  sort  of  punishment  in  itself,  you  know,  if  he 
hadn't  afterward  offered  me  money  to  let  him  go,  and  keep 
his  name  and  all  close — why,  I  never  was  so  insulted  in  mv 
life!" 

"Plis  name?  who  is  it?  what  is  his  name?"  eagerly  asked 
several  of  the  company. 

"Mayhap  you  from  dov/n  south  never  heard  of  him,  and 
don't  know  him,  but  I  did,  the  moment  I  saw  his  face  as  he 
passed  the  fellow  bringing  the  torch-light.  His  name  is  Sher- 
wood, living  down  in  New  Haven,  and  he  is  jest  one  of  the 
smoothest  fellows  that  ever  wore  two  faces  in  a  da}^  asking 
his  pardon." 

"Sherwood — Sherwood,"  said  Warrington,  musingly;  "aha! 
I  now  remember  to  have  heard  of  his  having  been  at  Benning- 
ton, and  also  of  his  having  made  some  suspicious  visits  to 
Albany.  But  we  will  examine  his  merits  more  particularly, 
when  we  reach  the  opposite  shore." 

"See  how  wistful  those  fellows  are  looking  after  us!"  ob- 
served Jones,  pointing  back  to  the  shore,  now  about  fifty  rods 
distant,  where  the  Yorkers,  having  procured  a  light,  were 
still  standing  in  a  dark  grouj)^  evidently  trying  to  trace  the 


THE    GREEN    MOUNTAIN    BOYS.  29 

course  of  the  receding  boat;  ''I  swan!  if  I  Avas  only  bloody 
minded  enough^  how  I  would  like  to  take  a  shot  into  that 
flock  of  York  buzzards!" 

^'Hold  up  a  little,  oarsmen,''  said  the  leader;  "and  w^e  will 
give  them  a  kinder  compliment  than  that,  before  entirely 
parting.  So  good-night,  Mr.  Munroe/^  he  continued,  rising 
in  the  boat,  and  raising  his  loud  clear  voice  to  a  pitch,  which 
in  the  dead  stillness  of  night,  might  have  been  distinctly  au- 
dible to  a  far  greater  distance;  "good-night!  my  old  friend — 
I  hope  for  the  pleasure  of  many  such  meetings  and  partings 
before  we  die — pleasant  dreams  and  a  good-night  to  you!" 

"Good-night,  sir  sheriff,'^  added  Selden,  in  the  same  strain 
of  mock  courtes}^;  "we  humbly  trust  you  will  duly  appreci- 
ate our  late  reception  of  yourself  and  fellows  in  imitation 
of  the  much  lauded  oriental  custom  of  regaling  friends  v.dth 
the  luxury  of  the  cool  bath,  which,  together  with  the  honor 
done  you  of  being  carried,  like  other  immortal  heroes,  on  the 
shoulders  of  men,  will  make  out  an  entertainment,  we  flatter 
ourselves,  not  v/holly  unworthy  of  our  guests — good-night!'^ 

"Hallo  there,  sheriff!"  cried  Jones,  determined  to  have  a 
parting  shot  as  well  as  the  rest;  "hallo,  sheriff,  won't  you  jest 
be  kind  enough  to  tell  us  by  way  of  information,  before  we 
go,  what  kind  of  a  return  you  calculate  to  make  on  that  war- 
rant you  told  us  about.  We  should  like  grandly  to  see  it 
when  you  have  got  it  fixed.  That  ^tother  poor  bothered  sher- 
iff's non  comeatibusin  siuampo,  I  guess,  would  be  a  fool  to  it." 


CHAPTER    III. 


"Ah,  me!  what  perils  do  environ 
The  roran  that  meddles  v/ith  cold  iron — 
What  plagii3^  mischiefs  and  mishaps 
Do  dog  him  still  with  afterclaps." 


Sherwood,  the  person  we  introduced  in  the  last  chapter, 
and  left  a  prisoner  in  the  hands  of  the  Green  Mountain  Boys, 
a  fair  candidate  for  the  honor  of  the  Beech-seal,  or  some  other 
of  the  novel  and  ingenious  modes  of  punishment,  which  the 
settlers  were  accustomed  to  inflict  on  their  foes  with  equal 


30  THE    GREEN    MOUNTAIN    BOYS. 

promptitude,  whether  they  were  foreign  or  domestic,  was  a 
resident  of  New  Haven,  in  the  vicinity  of  the  lower  falls  of 
Otter  Creek,  then  embraced  within  the  limits  of  that  town, 
but  now  forming  the  site  of  Yergennes,  the  only  incorporated 
city  of  Vermont.  He  had  here  located  himself,  ostensibly 
to  become  a  permanent  settler — to  vshare  the  fortunes  and 
identify  himself  with  the  interests  of  the  IsTew  Hampshire 
grantees;  while  in  fact,  he  was  a  secret  agent  of  a  company 
of  New  York  land-jobbers,  in  their  pay,  and  himself  engaged, 
at  the  same  time,  in  speculating  in  the  patents  issued  by  the 
governor  of  the  last  named  province.  Through  the  influence 
of  his  father,  a  man  of  reputed  wealth,  living  near  Albany, 
he  had  been  taken  into  the  employment  of  this  company. 

And  they,  soon  finding  him  a  person  well  fitted  for  their 
purposes,  induced  him,  by  opening  to  his  avaricious  mind  the 
prospect  of  making  a  fortune  out  of  the  New  Hampshire 
Grants,  in  addition  to  the  stated  salary  to  be  allowed  him,  to 
take  a  secret  agency,  and  locate  himself  in  some  part  of  the 
settlement  where-  he  would  most  eff ectualty  subserve  their  in- 
terests. In  pursuance  of  this  object  it  had  been  agreed  that 
he  should  first  proceed  to  New  Hampshire,  and,  taking  out  a 
patent  from  that  source,  should  enter  Vermont  known  only 
as  a  grantee  of  that  province,  in  order  that  he  might  thus  be 
effectually  secured  from  the  hostility  of  the  settlers,  and  en- 
abled to  maintain  with  them  a  free  and  unsuspected  inter- 
course, which,  at  the  present  juncture,  could  alone  insure 
him  any  success  or  safety.  This  had  been  accordingly  done 
something  more  than  a  year  previous  to  the  events  of  our 
tale.  A  single  lot  of  land  had  been  purchased  and  located 
by  him  near  the  Otter,  in  the  manner  agreed  on  by  the  com- 
pany. And  so  speciously  had  this  wily  agent  conducted,  be- 
ginning and  carrying  on  improvements  just  sufficient  to  save 
appearances,  while  mainly  pursuing  the  objects  of  his  resi- 
dence in  the  settlement,  that  till  now  he  had  passed  wholly 
unsuspected  of  being  in  the  York  interest,  except  in  the  slight 
question  that  had  been  raised  concerning  his  true  character, 
on  account  of  his  having  been  recognized  by  some  settlers 
from  the  south  part  of  the  Grants,  as  before  intimated,  while 
on  one  of  his  secret  journeys  to  Albany.  With  these  remarks, 
which  will  apprize  the  reader  with  all  that  may  at  present  be 
necessary  to  be  laiown  respecting  the  previous  character  and 


THE    GREEN    MOUNTAIN    BOYS.  31 

employment  of  this  personage^  we  will  return  to  the  thread  of 
onr  narrative. 

Brightly  rose  the  waning  moon  over  the  eastern  mountains, 
which  cast  their  broad,  wood-fringed  shadows  far  into  the 
lake,  while  a  flood  of  silvery  light,  falling  on  the  sleeping 
waters  and  towering  forest  beyond,  was  gradually  unfolding 
the  bold  and  magnificent  outlines  of  this  wilderness  land- 
scape, as  our  victorious  band  of  Grreen  Mountain  Boys  merrily 
sped  their  way  to  the  western  shore. 

"What  a  glorious  spectacle!"  exclaimed  Selden,  looking 
abroad,  over  the  scene,  as  the  boat  emerged  from  the  dark 
gloomy  line  of  the  mountain  shadows  into  the  bright  and 
cheerful  tract  of  illumined  waters,  that  now  met  them  on 
their  course. 

"Splendid?  splendid,  indeed!"  responded  Warrington, 
with  equal  enthusiasmi;  "such  scenes,  one  would  think,  were 
enough  to  enamor  the  whole  world  of  a  sylvan  life." 

"And  yet,"  observed  Selden,  "those  city  smoked  exquisites, 
who  claim  all  the  taste  and  refinement  of  the  country,  are 
horrified  at  the  thought  of  the  life  we  here  lead  in  the  Green 
Mountains." 

"I  don't  think  the  creturs  are  so  much  to  be  blamed  for 
that,"  said  Pete  Jones;  "for  bringing  them  here  I  calculate 
would  be  putting  them  pretty  nearly  in  the  plight  of  frogs 
that  are  dug  from  the  bottom  of  a  well — always  sure  to  shiyer 
and  die  the  minute  they  are  brought  to  the  pure  air." 

"If  all  this  be  so,"  rejoined  Warrington,  significantly  glanc- 
ing at  the  dress  and  comparatively  delicate  appearance  of 
the  prisoner;  "I  hope  that  such  of  this  class,  as  are  connect- 
ed with  a  certain  city  to  the  west  of  us,  will  be  less  inclined, 
to  favor  our  settlement  with  their  presence  hereafter.  Let 
them  stick  to  their  modie  of  life  and  its  luxuries,  and  we  will 
to  our  mountains.  But  I  am  reminded.  Lieutenant,"  he  con- 
tinued, turning  gayiy  to  Selden,  "of  the  possibility  of  our 
being  favored  with  something  on  this  subject  in  a  more  agree- 
able form,  if  I  rightly  divined  the  nature  of  your  employ- 
ment, and  the  theme  that  occupied  j^our  mind  there  at  the 
fire  before  the  cave  last  evening;,  after  the  rest  of  us  had  re- 
tired to  our  stone  couches  for  the  night.  Can  you  oblige  us 
with  the  fruits  of  your  vigil,  in  the  shape  of  a  song?" 

"O,  yes,  such  as  it  is — that  is,  if  my  music  will  not  jar 
upon  the  feelings  of  our  friend  in  durance  here,  and  you  are 


S2  THE    GREEN    MOUNTAIN    BOYS. 

all  willing  to  risk  the  same  effect  on  yourselves/'  jocosely  re- 
l^lied  the  other,  as  he  pulled  from  his  pocket  a  small  roll  of 
white  birch  bark  (the  soft,  smooth  inner  surface  of  which  he 
had  made,  as  was  in  those  times  not  unfrequently  the  case, 
his  papyrus  in  noting  down  his  hasty  effusion),  and  turning 
to  the  moonlight,  commenced: 

In  the  courts  of  high  life,  and  in  Fashion's  domain. 
Where  Folly  is  licensed  by  birth-right  to  reign, 
Let  the  gay  idle  throng,  in  their  old  reckless  measure, 
Their  phantoms  still  follow,  and  christen  them  Pleasure. 

But  we,  who  disdain  not  to  follow  the  plough. 
And  our  livelihood  gain  by  the  sweat  of  the  brow — 
What  have  we  here  to  do  Y\^ith  the  fashions  of  cities? 
Their  levees,  theatrics,  and  opera  ditties? 

What  to  do  with  the  trappings  around  them  display'd? 
Their  half  dress,  their  full  dress,  their  dress  promenade — 
Their  turtie-scup  dinners,  their  port  and  champagne. 
And  knick-knacks  unnumbered  that  foUov/  in  train? 

All  these  we  will  leave,  and  without  one  regret, 
To  the  poor  pamper'd  wights  of  that  butterfly  set, 
And  turn  to  our  dainties,  the  fruits  of  our  mountains. 
Our  wines  sparkling  up  in  their  health-giving  fountains. 

And  wear  with  just  pride,  as  forever  we  ought. 
Our  woolens  and  checks  by  our  fire-sides  wrought. 
While  we  scout  from  our  country  those  exquisite  goats 
Who  measure  their  worth  by  the  cloth  of  their  coats. 

As  the  clear,  melodious  voice  of  the  singer,  floating  free 
and  wide  over  the  hushed  waters  of  the  lake,  died  away  in  the 
distance,  and,  while  the  shouts  of  applause,  which  greeted 
him  at  the  close  of  his  performance  (intended,  as  was  sup- 
posed, to  hit  off  the  York  gentr}^,  and  the  last  couplet  to  apply 
to  the  prisoner  in  particular)  were  yet  echoing  around,  the 
boat  of  the  elated  (ireen  Mountain  Bo3's  reached  its  destined 
landing.  And  immediately  disembarking  with  their  prisoner, 
they  proceeded  to  a  rude,  bark-covered  shantee,  built  by  for- 
mer visitors  to  the  lake,  and  standing  amidst  a  group  of  large 
evergreens  a  few  rods  from  the  vv^ater.  There,  after  striking 
a  light  and  kindling  up  a  cheerful  fire,  th'ey  promptly  set 
about  the  business  of  deciding  upon  the  case  of  the  supposed 
traitor.    For  this  purpose  they  formally  resolved  themselves, 


THE    GREEN    MOUNTAIN    BOYS.  33 

as  was  usual  in  such  cases  where  a  resort  could  not  readily 
be  had  to  a  committee  of  safety,  into  a  sort  of  tribunal,  very 
nearly  resembling,  we  suppose,  a  modern  Lynch  court,  a 
form  of  dispensing  justice  which,  if  ever  justifiable,  v/as  un- 
doubtedly so  in  the  acts  of  our  early  settlers  in  resisting  that 
system  of  legalized  plunder  attempted  to  be  enforced  on 
them  by  their  oppressors.  And  if  the  right  of  defending  their 
homes  and  possessions  from  unwarrantable  seizures  be  con- 
ceded them,  it  was  certainly  not  only  justifiable  but  honor- 
able in  them  to  resort,  as  they  did,  to  such  measures  as  they 
judged  most  effectual  in  shielding  from  arrest  and  threat- 
ened punishment  those  of  their  fellow  settlers,  who,  by  their 
l^atriotism  in  the  common  cause,  had  rendered  themselves 
obnoxious  to  the  arbitrary  enactments  of  the  usurping  gov- 
ernment. For  soon  after  the  settlers  had  begun  openly  to 
resist  the  authorities  of  New  York  in  attempting  to  dispos- 
sess them,  a  law,  more  despotic  perhaps  than  any  to  be  found 
in  the  annals  of  legislation,  had  been  enacted  by  the  Assem- 
bly of  that  province  requiring  some  six  or  eight  of  the  settlers, 
who  had  been  most  conspicuous  in  the  controversy,  to  sur- 
render themselves,  on  the  order  of  the  executive,  within  sev- 
enty days,  to  a  magistrate  for  imprisonment,  and,  in  case  of 
neglect,  to  be  adjudged  convicted,  and,  without  hearing  or 
trial,  condemned  to  suffer  death.  And  not  delivering  them- 
selves up,  as  might  well  be  expected,  the  governor  issued  his 
proclamation  proscribing  them  as  felons,  and  offering  large 
rewards  for  their  apprehension,  which,  while  it  led  to  many 
secretly  laid  plots,,  and  several  open  though  fruitless  attempts 
to  seize  them  by  the  Yorkers,  in  concert  with  a  few  traitorous 
settlers,  served  onl}^  to  endear  them  to  an  indignant  and 
aroused  people,  who  publicly  resolved  to  protect  at  every 
hazard  their  proscribed  leaders,  and  at  the  same  time  prepare 
to  defend  the  general  interest  of  the  settlement  even  at  the 
price  of  their  lives.  Of  this  goodly  company  of  outlaws,  em- 
bracing some  of  the  first  and  most  talented  men  of  the  Grants, 
two,  as  before  intimated,  were  among  the  band  whom  we  have 
introduced  to  the  reader,  and  to  v,^hom  we  will  nov/  return. 

Pete  Jones,  the  principal  witness  in  the  case  now  to  be  de- 
cided, being  called  on  for  his  testimony,  related  at  large  and 
in  his  own  vein  of  peculiar  drollery,  what  he  knew  of  the 
previous  life  and  character  of  the  prisoner,  who,  it  appeared, 
had  been  frequently  absent  from  home^,  though  his  excur- 
I 


34  THE    GREEN    MOUNTAIN    BOYS. 

sions  were  generally  undertaken  under  the  professed  charac- 
ter of  a  sportsman,  for  the  emplo3'ments  of  which  he  pre- 
tended a  great  liking,  but  for  what  reason  nobod}^  conld 
imagine,  as  it  never  could  be  ascertained  that  he  was  ever 
successful.  It  also  appeared  that  he  had  been  loud  in  his  de- 
nunciations against  the  Yorkers,  and,  as  far  as  words  could 
go,  a  great  stickler  for  the  rights  of  the  settlers.  The  witness 
then  related  all  the  particulars  of  his  detecting  and  cap- 
turing the  prisoner.  After  this  the  accused  was  requested  to 
make  his  defense,  when,  to  the  surprise  of  all,  he  wholly  de- 
nied any  hostile  intention,  or  any  willing  participation  in 
the  recent  attempt  of  Munroe  to  surprise  and  seize  the  present 
party  at  the  cave,  deliberately  stating  that  while  hunting  in 
the  woods  near  the  Greek  that  afternoon,  he  was  met,  made 
prisoner  by  the  Yorkers,  and  compelled  to  accompany  them 
on  their  expedition,  the  object  of  which  they  did  not  reveal 
to  him.  And  in  confirmation  of  the  truth  of  his  statements, 
and  of  his  asserted  innocence,  he  cited  the  general  character 
he  had  always  sustained  as  a  friend  of  the  settlers. 

"Do  you  generally  manifest  your  friendship  for  the  settlers 
by  firing  pistols  at  their  heads,  sir?'^  asked  Warrington,  cast- 
ing a  look  of  withering  contempt  on  the  prisoner. 

"0,  I  was  trying  to  escape,"  replied  Sherwood,  who  had  his 
ready  answer  to  a  question  he  had  anticipated;  "I  was  on  the 
point  of  escaping,  and  discharged  my  pistol  at  this  man,  who 
beset  me,  to  prevent  being  retaken,  supposing  him  all  the 
while  to  be  one  of  the  Yorkers." 

'^'Whew"  uttered  Jones,  with  a  whistle,  prolonged  into  an 
exclamation;  "'now,  honestly,  friend,  I  must  crave  leave  to 
tell  you — but  that  wouldn't  be  manners,  and  so  I  won't — 
though  I  should  really  like  to  ask  you  if  there  was  any  one 
Yorker  there  to-night  that  a  fellow  of  my  short  stature — 
only  six  foot  eleven,  in  shirt  flaps — could  be  taken  for  with 
any  sort  of  conscience?" 

"Yes,  in  the  dark." 

"But  you  may  remember,  possibly  friend,  that  you  had  to 
raise  your  pistol  considerably  higher  than  your  head  to  ge1> 
aim  at  mine,  which  you  seemed  to  fancy  shooting  at  in  pref- 
erence. Besides  that,  we  took  v/hat  I  call  a  fair  measure  of 
lengths  on  the  ground  in  the  bit  of  grapple  we  had  afterwards 
— now  most  folks  that  I  am  acquainted  with  can  feel  in  the 
tlark,  if  they  can't  see/^ 


THE    GREEN    MOUNTAIN    BOYS.  35 

"0,  I  was  so  confuised  and  frightened,  that  I  noticed  none 
of  these  circumstances,  but  really  supposed  it  was  one  of  the 
Yorkers  till  you  iiad  got  with  me  nearly  to  the  boat.*^ 

•'•'Well,  now/'  exclaimed  Pete,  dropping  his  head  in  an  af- 
fected chagrin;  ''I  vow  to  Jeremiah,  I  never  felt  so  mortified 
in  my  life!    To  be  taken  for  a  Yorker  I  only  think  of  that!" 

"A  sad  mistake,  truly,"  observed  Selden,  addressing  ii'- 
companions  while  in  a  side  glance  he  kept  an  eye  keenly 
fixed  on  the  prisoner;  "but  still  it  vras  scarcely  a  more  singu- 
lar one  than  I  made  as  we  struck  a  light  Just  now,  when,  turn- 
ing to  look  at  this  man,  I  could  have  sworn  he  was  the  identi- 
cal fellow  we  detected  skulking  about  the  shore  yesterday — 
the  make,  motion,  and  dress  of  the  two  being  so  very  simi- 
lar." 

"That's  false  !'^  hastily  exclaimed  Sherwood,  completely 
thrown  off  his  guard  by  the  round  about  vv^ay,  and  designedly 
incorrect  statement  of  the  other,  made  for  the  purpose  of 
seeing  its  effect  on  the  prisoner;  "that^s  false  for  this  was 
not  the  dress  I  wore  yest — "  and  he  stopped  short  in  ^dsible 
confusion  at  the  thought  of  the  admission  he  was  inadvertent- 
ly making;  while  meaning  and  triumphant  glances  were  ex- 
changed among  the  company.  Soon  recovering  in  some  de- 
gree his  self-possession,  however,  and  seeing  how  he  had  been 
entrapped,  he  attempted  to  mend  the  matter  by  explaining 
that  he  was  about  to  say  that  this  was  not  the  dress  he  wore 
yesterday,  even  had  he  been  here,  instead  of  a  dozen  miles  off, 
as  he  was,  and  could  prove,  as  well  as  his  innocence  of  all  the 
charges  brought  against  him,  if  time  were  but  allowed  him 
for  the  purpose.  And  this,  or  his  acquittal,  he  continued 
for  some  time  to  demand,  becoming,  however,  every  moment 
less  assured  in  his  tone,  and  more  abject  in  his  manner,  as  he 
stealthily  glanced  round,  and  read  his  doom  in  the  counte- 
nances of  his  judges. 

"Well,  gentlemen,"  said  the  leader,  breaking  the  brief  in- 
terval of  silence,  which  followed  the  last  somewhat  broken 
and  confused  remarks  of  the  accused;  "you  have  heard  the 
evidence  against  the  prisoner,  as  well  as  his  defense  and  avow- 
als of  innocence.  Will  you  offer  your  individual  opinions 
on  the  question  of  his  guilt?  And  we  will  first  hear  what 
you  may  have  to  offer  on  the  subject,  Mr.  Jones?" 

"Why,  I  don't  knov/  exactly  about  the  chap,  Captain,"  said 
the  latter,  with  a  mischievous   cocking    of    one    eye,  while 


36  TME3    GRBBN    MOUNTAIN    BOYS. 

gcrewing  up  liis  mouth  nearly  to  his  ear  on  the  opposite  side 
of  his  face;  "he  says  he  is  innocent  of  the  traitor,  and  it  is  a 
poor  story  if  he  don't  know.  But  I  have  two  other  charges 
against  him,  which  I  consider  rather  gravus.  Firstly,  accord- 
ing to  his  own  stor}^,  he  suffered  himself,  with  that  clean  pair 
of  legs  of  his,  and  the  woods  open  for  a  run,  if  he  chose  that, 
or  with  guns  and  pistols  if  he  chose  to  stand  and  tight — (row 
vrhile  I  think  onH",  I  wonder  what  become  of  his  gun) — he  suf- 
fered himself,  I  say,  to  be  taken  hy  the  Yorkers  in  a  waj,^  and 
manner  which  is  a  burning  shame  to  a  Green  Mountain  Boy, 
if  so  be  he  is  one,  as  he  pretends.  And  secondly  he  missed  his 
aim  when  he  leveled  at  my  head,  for  which  a  professed  hun- 
ter like  himself  ought  to  be  ridiculous.  So  I  think,  consider- 
ing, I  shall  vote  to  have  him  vievv^cd."* 

"And  you.  Smith,  what  is  your  verdict?" 

"My  opinion  is,"  answered  the  man  now  addressed,  ''that 
the  fellow's  plausible  palaver  is  all  nothing  but  a  made  up 
mess  to  bamboozle  us  with — I  should  like  to  knov/  how  the 
Yorkers  knew  that  we  were  here  on  the  lake,  or  how  they 
happened  to  find  the  cave  without  his  help.  The  fact  is,  he 
brought  them  here  to  seize  us,  and  was  probably  calculating 
to  see  some  of  us  swinging  on  a  York  gallows  v/ithin  a  week. 
My  verdict,  therefore,  will  be  pretty  much  such  a  one  as  the 
king  gave  Haman." 

'^And  what  say  you.  Brown?" 

"Guilty!   guilty  as  a  dog,  and  the  liar  knoAvs  it." 

"And,  lastly,  your  opinion,  Mr.  Selden?" 

"Briefly  told — that  the  fellow's  guilt  is  equaled  only  by 
his  effrontery,  and  yet,  as  this  is  his  first  known  offense,  I 
would  recommend  a  milder  punishment  than  the  one  which 
has  been  hinted  at." 

"We  are  unanimous,  then,  in  a  verdict,  gentlemen,"  ob- 
served the  chief,  "if  I  understand  vour  various  modes  of  ex- 
pressing  your  opinions.  And  it  remains  only  to  determine  in 
what  m.anner  the  prisoner  shall  be  punished  for  his  offense. 
You  are  all,  including  the  prisoner  himself,  I  presume,  well 
aware  that,  by  a  decree  of  our  Convention,  the  only  source  of 
law  we  feel  ourselves  bound  to  regard  in  cases  of  this  kind, 
the  crime  of  aiding  the  enemy  to  arrest  one  of  our  citizens, 


*A  cant  phrase  among  the  settlers,  signifying  the  punishment  ol 
offenders. 


THE    GREEN    MOUNTAIN    BOYS.  37 

who  may  have  happened  to  fall  under  the  ban  of  that  despotic 
edict  by  which  they  would  terrify  us  into  submission,  is  made 
punishable  with  death.  If  this  were  to  be  inflicted,  however, 
on  the  prisoner,  I  should  be  inclined  to  grant  him  a  more  for- 
mal trial,  before  a  regularly  appointed  committee  of  safety, 
and  allow  him  time  for  his  defense,  as  he  requests — not  that 
I  have  the  least  doubt  of  his  guilt,  for  I  believe  him  to  be 
the  most  precious  compound  of  duplicity  and  villainy  that  I 
have  seen  in  the  settlement,  but  I  would  grant  it  on  the  prin- 
ciple of  allowing  every  man  the  best  means  to  establish  his  in- 
nocence when  his  life  is  at  stake.  Yet,  concurring  with  Mr. 
Selden,  I  think  we  had  better  adopt  one  of  the  ordinary 
modes  of  punishment,  for  which  the  evidence  is  abundantly 
sufficient,  administer  it  on  the  spot,  and  dismiss  him  with  the 
admonition  it  will  give.  Yfhat  this  punishment  shall  be,  I 
will  leave  to  you  to  designate.^' 

"I  should  like  to  have  the  title  of  my  farm  confirmed,''  said 
Smith,  "seeing  the  Yorkers  still  continue  to  dispute  it,  and 
as  the  Beech-seal  is  a  sort  of  legal  instrument  to  do  it  with, 
they  sa}^,  I  vote  that  we  apply  it." 

"Just  the  thing  for  the  double-faced  scoundrel,  if  we  have 
got  to  let  him  ofi  so  cheap,"  bluntly  remarked  Brown. 

"My  title  to  my  head,"  said  Pete  Jones,  "seems  to  be  rather 
questioned,  and  as  it  is  an  article  that  would  be  dreadful  in- 
convenient for  me  to  do  without,  I  motion  that  it  be  con- 
firmed too." 

"So  be  it,  then,"  observed  Selden;  "I  had,  it  is  true,  thought 
of  a  ducking,  that  lie  might  be  enabled  to  sympathize  with  his 
friends  over  the  lake — I  also  had  thought  of  taking  him  up 
into  the  top  of  one  of  those  trees,  and  leaving  him  bound  there 
for  the  night;  but  neither  of  these  punishments,  probably, 
would  so  nearly  come  up  to  the  fellow's  merits  as  the  beechen 
remedy.     I  will  therefore  agree  to  its  application." 

The  prisoner's  doom  being  thus  unanimously  settled,  prep- 
arations were  immediately  commenced  for  carrying  the  sen- 
tence into  effect.  This  was  understood  to  be,  in  the  quaint 
phrase  of  the  times,  "a  chastisement  with  the  twigs  of  the 
wilderness,"  or  the  usual  number  of  stripes,  forty,  save  one, 
faithfully  applied  to  the  back  of  the  offender  v/ith  a  green 
beech  rod,  termed,  as  before  mentioned,  the  Beech-seal.  Sev- 
eral rods,  or  shoots  of  that  thus  oddly  consecrated  tree,  were  ac- 
cordingly selected,  ciit,  and  carefully  trimmed  for  the  purpose. 


38  THE    GREEN    MOUNTAIN    BOYS. 

The  prisoner  was  tlieiij  in  despite  of  Ms  alternate  threats,  and 
promises  of  good  behavior  in  future,  stripped  of  his  coat,  and 
firmly  bound  to  the  body  of  a  large  hemlock,  with  his  face 
turned  to  the  tree.  Everything  being  now  in  readiness  for 
the  execution  of  the  sentence,  the  question  arose  who  should 
be  the  executioner.  For  this  honor  two  rival  candidates  now 
presented  themselves — Brown  and  Pete  Jones — the  former 
claiming  it  on  the  ground  that  no  one  of  the  present  company 
had  received  injuries  that  so  loudly  demanded  a  personal 
reciprocation  as  his  own,  and  the  latter,  with  the  greatest  ap- 
parent gravity,  contending  that  it  was  his  peculiar  right  to  do 
the  duty  of  punishing  the  fellow  for  the  unpardonable  crime  of 
missing  his  aim,  since  the  shot  was  intended  for  his  own 
benefit. 

The  altercation,  however,  was  settled  by  the  interposition 
of  their  leader,  who  good  naturedly  awarded  a  division  of  the 
honors  between  them,  directing  that  the  first  tvv^enty  stripes 
should  be  given  by  J-ones,  while  Brown  should  be  allowed  the 
privilege  of  completing  the  task. 

In  accordance  with  this  arrangement,  the  tall  woodsman 
now  seized  a  rod  of  his  own  preparing,  of  dimensions  fearfully 
portentious  to  the  back  of  the  trembling  culprit,  and  giving 
it  a  furious  flourish  in  the  air,  he  commenced,  with  a  look  of 
terrible  fierceness,  the  performance  of  his  allotted  task.  But 
malice  and  revenge  formed  no  part  of  the  character  of  this 
jolly  and  good  natured  borderer.  The  manner  in  which  the 
blows  were  given,  and  the  comparatively  slight  effect  they 
produced  on  their  victim,  made  it  very  evident,  that,  not- 
withstanding all  his  assumed  wrath  and  fury  of  countenance 
and  manner,  his  humanity,  combined  with  a  natural  love  of 
sport,  which  had  doubtless  led  him  to  solicit  the  office,  was 
about  to  govern  him  in  its  execution. 

"Well,  here  is  my  respects  to  you,  friend,"  he  said,  com- 
mencing, and  keeping  up  a  sort  of  loose,  irregular  discourse, 
and  counting  the  blows  in  a  parenthetical  tone,  as  with  mighty 
grins  and  flourishes,  he  proceeded  to  apply  the  typical  beech; 
"there  is  my  respects  to  you  (one),  miss  your  aim  again,  you 
lubber,  eh?  (two)  I  told  you  that  you  shouldn't  disgrace  the 
cloth  for  nothing  (three),  and  then  (four)  those  kicks  (five), 
I  thought  at  the  time  (six)  that  you  was  lacking  against  the 
pricks  (seven,  eight),  so  here  is  two  pricks  to  every  kick  (eight, 
nine),  scurvy  business  that  of  you,  friend  (nine,  ten),  that 


THE    GREEN    MOUNTAIN    BOYS.  39 

kicking  against  the  trees  (eleven,  twelve),  you  didn't  consider 
(seven — no  eleven)  what  a  hurry  I  was  in  (twelve,  thirteen), 
and  then  again  that  offering  me  money,  zounds,  sir!  (thir- 
teen, fourteen)  I  should  like  (fourteen)  to  know,  sir^ — ^' 

''There!  there!''  hastily  exclaimed  the  prisoner,  who  had  not 
been  so  much  hurt  amidst  all  this  parade  of  cuts  and  flourishes 
as  to  prevent  his  taking  note  of  the  true  number  of  the 
stripes  which  had  been  administered,  and  which  the  mischief - 
loving  woodsman  had  willfully  miscounted;  ^'hold — you  have 
already  struck  twenty — hold!    I  say." 

"You  don't  say  so  ?"  replied  Jones  with  affected  surprise,  as 
he  slowly  lowered  his  uplifted  arm;  "why  I  thought  I  said 
fourteen — only  fourteen  last!" 

"I  care  not  if  you  did,  sir,"  expostulated  the  prisoner,  now 
bold  from  the  consciousness  of  having  at  last  a  little  truth  on 
his  side;  "you  miscounted  on  purpose  to  prolong  my  torture — 
I  appeal  to  the  company — you  have  gone  your  twent}^,  I  tell 
you,  ruffian!" 

"Have!  well,  friend,  just  as  you  say,  not  as  I  care." 

So  saying,  the  eccentric,  but  kind-hearted  woodsman  hurled 
his  rod  into  the  lake,  and  bounding  oif  into  the  woods,  with 
the  pretended  object  of  procuring  some  better  rods  for  the 
use  of  his  successor,  but,  in  realit}^,  only  to  avoid  the  sight  and 
sounds  which,  from  the  determined  character  and  exasperated 
feelings  of  the  man,  he  rightly  anticipated  would  now  follow, 
disappeared,  with  a  finger  thrust  into  each  ear,  in  a  neighbor- 
ing thicket. 

The  flagellation  was  now  resumed.  And  never  was  rod 
more  effectually  applied  to  the  deserving  back  of  miscreant 
S^3y  or  traitor  than  now  by  the  sinewy  arm  of  Brown,  doubly 
nerved  as  it  was  by  the  keen  sense  he  harbored  of  the  injuries 
he  had  already  received  from  the  hands  of  those  with  whom 
the  present  victim  of  his  pent  vengeance  had  been  found 
leagued,  to  assist  in  dragging  him  to  a  gallows,  and  thus  com- 
pleting, on  his  person,  the  work  of  destruction  which  the}^  had 
before  commenced  on  his  property.  With  a  pause  at  every 
application  of  the  rod,  that  no  energy  should  be  lost  or  weak- 
ened by  the  exertion,  slow  and  measured  fell  the  tremendous 
blows  from  his  relentless  arm,  till  he  had  told  out  the  full  num- 
ber assigned  him;  while  at  every  lash  of  the  pliant  and  close 
hugging  instrument  of  torture,  the  writhing  victim  sent  forth 


40  THE    GREEN    MOUNTAIN    BOYS., 

a  screech  of  agony  that  thrilled  through  the  forest  for  miles 
around  him. 

This  painful  task  being  performed — for  painful  it  was  to 
most  of  the  hand  ,while  the  stern  necessity  that  required  it  was 
sincerely  regretted  hy  them  all — the  prisoner  was  unbound, 
and  with  an  earnest  but  kind  admonition  from  Warrington 
to  profit  by  the  lesson  he  had  received,  set  at  liberty;  when, 
muttering  many  a  bitter  execration,  and  breathing  vows  of 
deadliest  revenge  on  his  captors,  he  sullenly  departed  from  the 
camp,  and  soon  disappeared  along  the  border  of  the  lake  in 
a  northern  direction. 


CHAPTER  lY. 


'That  strain  again!    it  liad  a  dying  fall! 
Oh,  it  came  o'er  my  ear  like  the  sv/eet  south 
That  breathes  upon  a  bank  cf  violets. 
Stealing  and  giving  odor." 


After  the  departure  of  Sherwood,  our  band,  not  deeming 
it  prudent,  without  precautions  which  must  necessarily  de- 
prive most  of  them  of  their  rest  for  the  night,  to  encamp  so 
near  an  exasperated  enemy  of  double  their  own  numbers,  de- 
termined on  an  immediate  removal  from  the  scene  of  then* 
recent  exploits.  Accordingly  they  packed  up,  and  without 
further  delay,  commenced  their  march  by  the  beautiful  moon- 
light, v/hich,  streaming  brightly  through  the  leafless  forest, 
enabled  them  to  pursue  their  way  with  as  much  ease  and  cer- 
tainty as  by  the  broadest  daylight.  Striking  off  westerly 
from  the  lake  they  directed  their  course  to  the  nearest  part  of 
Otter  Creek,  where  they  proposed  procuring  quarters  for  the 
remainder  of  the  night  in  the  log  houses  of  the  only  two  fam- 
ilies who  resided  on  the  Creek  in  that  vicinity.  These  two 
houses  were  situated  nearly  a  mile  apart,  while  the  respective 
openings  around  tbom  were  separated  by  a  dense  wood  of 
evergreens  of  about  lialf  that  distance  in  extent.  After  pro- 
ceeding on  together  awhile,  the  company  separated  into  two 
parties,  three  of  them  bending  their  course  towards  the  lo\y- 


THE    GREEN    MOUNTAIN    BOYS.  41 

est;,  or  more  northerly  opening,  where  they  were  to  remain 
till  joined  in  the  morning  by  their  leader,  to  conduet  them 
on  their  enterprise  down  the  Creek;  while  the  latter,  with 
Selden,  taking  their  venison  and  a  goodly  portion  ot  their 
tront,  continned  forward  directly  to  the  upper  clearing.  This 
last  was  no  other  than  the  residence  of  the  fair  and  spirited 
friend,  whose  timely  notice  had  not  only  ensured  their  late 
escape,  but  enabled  them  to  gain  such  triumphant  advantage 
over  their  foes.  And  it  was  this  friendly  and  patriotic  act 
vrhicli  they  were  nov/  proceeding  to  award,  not  only  with 
suitable  acknowledgment,  but  with  the  most  valuable  por- 
tion of  their  game — an  offering  that  they  supposed  would  be 
highly  acceptable  to  one  in  her  situation;  for  this  extraordin- 
ary woman,*  with  no  other  dependence  than  on  her  own 
hands,  with  the  slight  assistance  rendered  her  by  her  boys, 
the  eldest  of  whom  was  not  a  dozen  years  old,  was  managing 
to  support  herself  and  her  large  family  of  children  from  the 
products  of  a  new  lot  of  land  which  her  husband  had  com- 
menced clearing  when  he  lost  his  life  by  the  fall  of  a  tree, 
and  v/hich  she  now  with  unexampled  fortitude  persisted  in  im- 
proving, though  in  the  heart  of  a  wilderness  infested  with  wild 
beasts,  and  not  wholly  exempt  from  the  hostile,  or  at  least 
predatory  incursions  of  the  Indians.  It  was  nearly  midnight 
when  Warrington  and  his  companion  reached  the  log  tene- 
ment of  this  fearless  daughter  of  the  wilds.  Much  to  their 
surprise  they  found  the  house  entirely  deserted.  Finding  the 
door  unfastened,  however,  they  determined  on  entering  to 
note  appearances  wd£hin;  when  it  became  evident  that  the 
desertion  had  taken  place  but  a  few  hours  before;  but  wheth- 
er it  was  intended  for  a  temporary  or  final  removal  they  were 
unable  to  determine.  A  bed  of  coals,  yet  alive,  was  raked  up 
on  the  hearth;  while  the  beds  had  been  taken  from  the 
steads,  and,  with  all  the  most  necessary  utensils  of  family 
use,  removed  from  the  house. 

"What  means  this  sudden  desertion  of  the  family?"  ob- 
served Warrington,  musingly;  "and  whither  can  they  have 
fled?" 


*Aii  old  settler,  to  whom  Mrs.  Story  and  her  cave  were  person- 
ally known,  described  her  to  the  author  as  "a  busting  great  wom- 
an, who  would  cut  off  a  two  foot  log  as  quick  as  any  man  in  the 
settlement." 


4^  THE    GREEN    MOUNTAIN    BOYS. 

"To  their  neighbor's,  down  the  Creek,  probabh^,"  repliecl 
Selden;  "the  movement  has  been  made,  I  should  conjecture, 
in  anticipation  of  the  return  of  Munroe  and  his  party,  from 
whose  visit  to-night  a  lone  woman,  like  this  widow,  would 
doubtless  wish  to  be  excused." 

"It  may  be  so,"  replied  the  other^  "but  to  quit  her  home 
from  any  of  the  motives  which  you  suggest  would  be  very 
little  like  widov/  Story:  there  are  few  men  in  this  settlement 
who  can  handle  not  only  axe,  but  rifle,  with  more  effect, 
though  woman  she  be.  And  as  for  fear,  it  is  a  sensation  with 
which,  I  verily  believe,  she  is  utterly  unacquainted.  But 
whatever  may  have  become  of  the  occupants  of  the  house, 
we  may  as  well,  now  we  are  here,  make  free  and  remain  for 
the  night." 

'"It  will  be  considered  no  intrusion,  I  suppose?"  inquiring- 
ly said  Selden;  "I  have  not  the  honor  of  an  acquaintance  with 
your  heroine,  you  will  bear  in  mind." 

"Intrusion?  not  in  the  least;  for  you  must  know  that  we 
are  patriots  here, — rebels  or  whatever  we  were  on  the  lake 
to-night,"  jocosely  replied  Warrington.  . 

"Patriotism,"  said  Selden,  follovring  up  the, train  of  thought 
which  the  last  remark  suggested,  "Voulcl  seem  entirely  a  rela- 
tive term,  and  like  beauty,  v/hich  consists  of  black  teeth, 
thick  lips  and  large  eyes  v/ith  one  nation,  and  exactly  the 
reverse  with  another,  wholly  dependent  on  the  pre-existing 
opinions  of  those  who  claim  it  for  this  action  and  den}^  it 
in  that.-  Besides  this,  as  the  world  estimates  actions,  success 
would  seem  to  be  quite  as  essential  to  constitute  the  patriot 
as  the  merits  of  his  cause  or  the  glory  of  his  deeds.  Here,  with 
the  settlers,  you  are  indeed  called  a  patriot,  and  surely  there 
is  no  one  who  better  deserves  from  them  the  appellation; 
w^hile  with  the  people  of  N"ew  York  you  are  a  rebel,  outlaw, 
and  hunted  like  a  wild  beast.  And  yet,  if  our  cause  prove 
successful,  as  Heaven  grant  it  may,  the  world  at  large,  coming 
in  as  umpire,  will  side  with  the  settlers  in  establishing  your 
name  as  a  patriot;  but  if  we  fail  it  will  join  with  your  foes  in 
declaring  you  a  rebel  and  reckless  factionist." 

''Xames  and  definitions,  Selden,  may  be  sometimes  vague 
and  varying,  but  principles  are  immutable.  The  principles 
which  actuate  us  in  resisting  these  encroachments  on  our 
rights,  are  tbe  same  that  have  actuated  the  bosoms  of  all 
those  whom  the  world  agree  in  calling  patriots,  from  the  be- 


THE   GREEN    MOUNTAIN   BOYS.  43 

ginning  of  oppression  to  the  present  time.  Tlie  disposition 
to  defend  our  homes  and  property^  besides  being  implanted  in 
our  bosoms  as  a  law  of  nature^  indispensable  to  our  self- 
protection,  and  even  existence  in  the  world,  seems  to  have 
been  ordained  by  Providence  also  as  the  natural  means  by 
which  the  rapacity  of  tyrants  should  be  punished.  This,  in- 
deed, is  the  only  protection  insured  to  industry  and  virtue — 
it  constitutes  the  grand  cement  of  society,  and  the  main  pil- 
lars of  all  government.  This  is  the  foundation  of  patriotism, 
which .  consists  only  in  the  defense  of  justly  acquired  rights 
against  wrongful  aggressions.  In  our  case,  the  opinions  of  the 
world  may  indeed  be  various  and  fluctuating  till  our  rights  be- 
come fairl}^  understood,  and  the  wrongs  we  have  received  as 
fairly  developed.  But  should  men  of  the  intelligence  to 
know,  and  the  spirit  to  defend  their  rights,  stand  tamely  still, 
and  see  those  rights  wrested  from  them,  to  be  placed  forever 
beyond  their  recovery,  while  hesitating  to  know  v/hether  the 
world  will  call  their  resistance  patriotism  or  rebellion?  It 
is  not  the  name  of  patriot  that  I  seek,  or  that  of  rebel  or 
outlaw  that  I  fear.  It  is  results  I  am  aiming  to  accomplish, 
and  I  will  never  rest,  nor  cease  my  exertions  till  our  heaven- 
favored  cause  shall  triumph,  and  these  rapacious  intruders 
shall  be  driven  from  our  soil.  Could  you  have  witnessed,  as 
I  have,  the  dismay,  want  and  suffering,  which  these  grasping 
and  shameless  tyrants  have  occasioned  in  this  settlement — 
here,  whole  families  turned  from  their  houses  in  the  midst 
of  winter,  with  no  human  habitation  within  miles  of  them 
to  flee  to  for  refuge"  and  shelter — there,  property,  acquired 
through  the  severest  of  toil,  hardship,  and  privation,  v/an- 
tonly  destroyed,  houses  set  on  fire  and  consumed  to  prevent 
the  return  of  the  owners — and  then  again,  females  abused, 
and  even  the  sick  roughly  ejected,  and  left  to  perish  miserably 
in  the  night  air,  or  storm,  for  all  these  ruthless  aggressors 
could  know — could  you  have  witnessed  all  this,  you  would  not 
be  surprised  at  the  exasperated  feelings  of  our  people,  or  the 
indomitable  spirit  with  which  they  have  persevered  in  that 
cause,  which  brought  you,  till  lately  a  stranger  to  our  wrongs, 
among  us  to  aid  in  sustaining.  Mj^  personal  interest,  I  know, 
suffers  in  consequence  of  devoting  so  much  of  my  time  to  the 
service  of  the  public.  Indeed,  I  have,  in  common  with  my 
chivalrous  superior,  Colonel  Ethan  Allen,  almost  wholly  neg- 
lected my  own  concerns;,  while  guarding  the  interests  of  ott 


44  THE    GREEN   MOUNTAIN   BOYS. 

ers.  Even  now  I  am  the  owner  of  a  large  tract  of.  land  on  the 
borders  of  Champlain^  a  part  of  which,  as  I  have  lately  been 
apprised,  has  been  for  several  years  in  possession  of  one  of 
the  York  patentees,  while  my  duties  nearer  home  have  pre- 
vented me  from  ever  looking  after  it,  or  taking,  since  making 
this  discovery,  any  steps  towards  dispossessing  the  intruder." 

"But  you  surely  will  neglect  it  no  longer,"  observed  the  oth- 
er; "since  we  are  going  into  the  vicinity,  and  on  similar  busi- 
ness?" 

"We  will  consider  the  case  after  we  have  righted  the  wrongs 
of  the  houseless  settlers  at  the  Lower  Falls,  and  fulfilled  the 
other  objects  of  our  mission  into  this  region.  But  let  us  drop 
this  exciting  subject  for  to-night,  that  we  may  obtain  a  little 
rest  to  prepare  us  for  the  duties  of  to-morrov\%".  replied  Wsr- 
rington,  now  rising  to  make  such  scanty  preparations  as  might 
be  required  for  their  repose. 

The  two  friends,  after  barricading  the  door,  and  spreading 
their  blankets  before  the  small  fire  they  had  kindled  on  en- 
tering the  house,  now  laid  down  to  repose  on  the  floor,  which 
to  the  hardy  and  tired  woodsman  is  generally  more  grateful 
than  beds  of  the  softest  down  to  the  pampered  sons  of  luxury 
and  ease.  Seiden  was  soon  lost  in  slumber.  But  his  com- 
panion, whose  mind  was  oppressed  with  more  weighty  cares, 
and  whose  feelings  had  become  somewhat  excited  in  recount- 
ing the  wrongs  of  his  countrymen,  courted  the  drowsy  god  in 
vain.  And  these  causes,  together  with  his  attempts  to  ac- 
count for  the  absence  of  the  family,  for  whose  safety  he  was 
not  wholly  without  apprehensions,  continuing  for  some  time  to 
render  all  his  endeavors  to  sleep  useless,  he  arose,  unbarred 
the  door,  and,  without  waking  his  more  fortunate  companion, 
went  out  into  the  open  air  to  try  the  effect  of  the  cool  breath 
of  heaven  in  allaying  the  excitement  of  his  feelings,  and  dis- 
posing him  to  slumber.  The  night  still  continued  bright  and 
lovely.  Abroad,  nature  seemed  sunk  in  death-like  repose; 
while  the  deep  and  solemn  silence  that  pervaded  the  wilder- 
ness was  broken  only  by  the  low,  but  far  sounding  hoot  of 
the  sylvan  watchman  of  the  night,  or  the  voices  of  the  inhab- 
itants of  the  neighboring  pools,  who  were  straining  their  tiny 
throats,  in  notes  of  seeming  joy  and  jubilee  at  their  recent 
release  from  a  wintry  thraldom.  While  contemplating  the 
scene  around  him,  and  indulging  in  the  moody  reverie  which 
the  circumstances  were  calculated  to  create  in  the  mind^  the 


THE    GREEN    MOUNTAIN    BOYS.  45 

young  outlaw  iinconsciousl}^  wandered  nearly  to  the  bank 
of  the  river,  which  was  still  bordered  by  a  strip  of  forest, 
extending  from  the  water  back  almost  to  the  house.     Here, 
leaning  against  the  trnnk  of  a  large  tree,  which  some  heavy 
wind  had  broken  oft*  about  twenty  feet  from  the  ground,  he 
stood  some  minutes  looking  listlessly  down  upon  the  placid 
waters,  as,  sparkling' in  the  moonlight  that  struggled  through 
the  trees  above,  they  moved  ceaselessly  along  on  their  journey 
to  the  deep.     JSTow  his  attention  would  become  riveted  for  a 
moment  on  some  light  float  of  wood  sweeping  by  in  the  noise- 
less current.     And  now  he  would  turn  a  half  listening  ear 
to  the  sportive  plunges  of  the  otter,  here  once  found  in  such 
numbers  as  to  have  naturally  suggested  to  the  hunters  who 
first  visited  this  stream  the  name  which  it  bears.     His  medi- 
tations, however,  were  at  length  interrupted  by  some  indis- 
tinct, and  at  first  scarcely  audible  sounds,  the  nature  of  which 
he  was  for  some  time  wholly  unable  to  determine.     At  last, 
however,  he  became  satisfied  it  could  be  no  other  than  the 
distinct  murmur  of  human  voices;    but  from  what  quarter 
it  came  he  was  still  unable  to  decide.     He  listened  intently; 
and  now  the  sounds  became  more  distinct.     Presently  they 
began  to  swell  on  the  air  in  the  low,  melodious  voice  of  a 
female  chanting  a  tune,  which,  though  not  recently  heard  by 
him,  struck  nevertheless  familiarly  on  his  ear,  awakening  in 
his  mind  reminiscences  of  persons,  time,  and  place,  which 
formerly  occupied  a  prominent  space  among  the  objects  of 
his  peculiar  interest,  ,but  which  in  the  cares  and  turmoils  of 
the  last  tevi  years,  had  been  almost  forgotten.     Starting  as 
from  a  trance,  he  rallied  his  doubting  senses,  and  made  another 
effort  to  ascertain  whence  this  mysterious  music  could  pro- 
ceed, but  with  no  better  success  than  before.     Sometimes  the 
sounds  seemed  to  come  from  the  earth,  or  some  subterraneous 
cavern  far  benefith  his  feet.     At  other  times  the  liquid  notes 
appeared  floating  high  in  the  heavens  above.     He  now  took 
another  position,  several  paces  distant  from  the  one  first  oc- 
cupied, to  see  whether  any  variation  would  thus  be  produced 
in  the  sounds.     Here,  however,  they  were  scarcely  audible. 
Several  other  new  positions  were  then  tried,  but  all  with  the 
same  success;  and  he  returned  to  the  tree  where  he  w^as  stand- 
ing when  his  attention  was  first  arrested  by  these  unaccount- 
able sounds.     Here  he  again  taxed  his  powers  of  hearing  to 
their  utmost,  when,  to  his  increasing  wonder,  the  same  me- 


46  THE    GREEN    MOUNTAIN    BOYS. 

loclious  notes  fell  upon  liis  ear  even  more  distinctly  than  be- 
fore. Now,  not  only  the  tune  seemed  familiar  to  him,  but 
there  was  something  in  the  voice  likewise  which  his  bewil- 
dered senses  seemed  to  recognize — something  that  seemed  to 
touch  a  chord  in  his  bosom  that  had  never  vibrated  save  under 
the  sweet  intonations  of  one  whose  words  were  even  once 
music  to  his  ears — but  still  one,  to  heighten  his  perplexity, 
who,  though  her  residence  had  long  been  unknown  to  him, 
could  not  yet  be,  he  felt  assured,  v/ithin  a  hundred  miles  of 
this  spot.  Curiosit}^,  surprise,  and  wonder  had  now  raised  his 
feelings  to  a  pitch  of  almost  frantic  excitement;  and,  without 
scarcely  knowing  why,  he  struck  his  clenched  fist  two  or  three 
times  heavily  against  the  tree,  which  seemed  so  strangely  the 
conductor  of  the  sounds  in  question.  A  deep,  hollow  rever- 
beration, indicating  a  large  and  extended  cavity  within,  was 
apparently  the  only  effect  produced  by  the  blows.  On  apply- 
ing his  ear  once  more,  however,  he  found  that  the  singing 
had  ceased;  and -every  sound  was  now  hushed  in  silence.  He 
listened  awhile  with  suspended  breath,  in  expectation  of  hear- 
ing the  music  resumed.  But  he  listen-ed  in  vain.  He  then 
renewed  the  experiment  of  listening  from  other  positions; 
but  being  again  unsuccessful,  he  returned  to  the  tree,  and 
fell  to  beating  it  again,  in  the  absurd  fancy  that,  if  there  had 
been  any  connection  between  his  blows  and  the  ceasmg  of 
the  sounds,  the  same  operation  which  had  caused  them  to  cease 
might  revive  them,  though  deeming  it,  at  the  same  time, 
an  utter  impossibility  that  the  cavity  within  the  trunk  could 
contain  the  invisible  songstress.  All  his  efforts,  however, 
to  gain  a  clue  to  the  mystery  proved  wholly  fruitless,  and, 
after  lingering  some  time  near  the  spot  of  seeming  enchant- 
ment, he  slowly  wandered  back  to  the  house,  deeply  pon- 
dering over  the  singular  and  incomprehensible  incident  which 
had  attended  his  nocturnal  ramble.  Was  it  within  the  bounds 
of  possibility,  be  asked  himself,  that  the  person,  the  once 
loved  and  lost  one,  whose  voice  these  mysterious  notes  so  much 
resembled,  could  now  be  in  this  almost  uninhabited  wilder- 
ness? iSTo,  no!  What  other  female,  then,  capable  of  such 
execution,  could  be  near  at  such  an  hour  of  the  night?  Sure- 
ly none!  Was  it  not,  then,  a  human  voice  that  he  had  heard? — 
Was  it  the  voice  of  an  angel,  of  "visits  few  and  far  between," 
floating  high  in  the  heavens,  and  hymning  the  stars?  What 
had  he  done  to  deserve  sucli  special  revealmcnt?     Or  was  it, 


THE    GREEN    MOUNTAIN    BOYS.  47 

as  the  traditions  of  the  superstitious  would  inculcate,  the  voice 
of  a  departing  spirit,  permitted  to  break  on  the  ear  of  a  dis- 
tant friend  at  the  instant  of  departure,  for  the  purpose  of 
apprising  him  of  his  exit  from  the  earth,  or  warning  liim  of  his 
own  dissolution?  Or  was  it  not  more  probable,  he  said,  with 
an  effort  to  shake  oil  these  intruding  fancies,  that  his  senses 
had  deceived  him;  and  that,  after  all,  the  whole  was  but  the 
work  of  an  over-excited  imagination?  It  must  have  been  so. 
xVnd,  as  if  determined  to  satisfy  himself  with  this  last  solu- 
tion of  the  subject,  since  he  could  hit  upon  no  other  which 
reason  would  not  sooner  reject,  he  quickened  his  pace,  and 
like  one  resolved  to  end  a  perplexing  inquiry  by  the  best 
argument  be  can  give,  and  call  it  conclusive,  bustled  forward, 
now  v.histhng  a  tune,  or  now  atiecting  to  run  over  to  him- 
self the  intended  business  of  to-morrow,  till  he  had  reached 
the  house,  secured  the  door,  and  thrown  himself  down  beside 
his  still  insensible  companion,  *!•  when  exhausted  nature  soon 
closed  the  scene  in  a  profound  slumber. 


CHAPTER  V. 


"If  you  had  been  the  wife  of  Hercules, 
Six  of  his  labors  you'd  have  done,  and  sav'd 
Your  husband  so  much  sweat," 

— Coriolanus. 


Real  causes  of  excitement  have  frequently,  and  perhaps 
generdll}^  been  found  to  produce  the  soundest  slumber;  while 
those  that  are  artificial,  or  imaginary,  have  an  equal  tendency 
to  prevent  it.  Doctor  Young's  poetic  ]jhilosophy  to  the  con- 
trary^ notwithstanding.  It  was  thus  with  Warrington.  "While 
the  images  of  the  past  and  the  future,  Avhich  fancy  had  called 
up,  were  operating  in  his  bosom,  he  vainly  sought  the  arms  of 
*^tired  nature's  sweet  restorer.^'  But  after  he  had  found  a  just 
cause  for  excitement,  and  experienced  the  utmost  of  its  legiti- 
mate efforts,  that  restorer  came  unbidden  and  instantly.  And 
the  next  morning  was  considerably  advanced  before  he  and 
his  companion  awoke  from  the  deep  and  sense-absorbing  slum- 
bers which,  for  many  hours,  had  sealed  their  every  faculty  in 

4 


48  THE    GREEN    MOUNTAIN    BOYS. 

blank  ubiiviuii.  Tlie}^  simultajieously  arose^  and  went  to  the 
>Yindow  to  ascertain  from  whom  proceeded  the  noise  of  the 
axe,  whose  heavy,  resounding  blows,  in  the  adjoining  forest, 
had  first  awakened  them  from  their  qniet  repose.  At  the  bor- 
der of  the  woods,  a  short  distance  to  the  south  of  the  house, 
and  in  plain  sight  of  their  loop-hole,  for  the  window  v»t.s  noth- 
ing more,  stood  the  amazon  owner,  and  almost  sole  creator  of 
this  little  opening  in  the  dark  wilderness,  plying  her  axe, 
with  masculine  dexterity  and  effect,  into  the  huge  trunk  of  a 
standing  liemlock.  In  a  short  time  this  princely  tenant  of 
the  Green  Mountain  forest  began  to  tremble,  totter,  and  bow 
beneath  the  supple  arm  of  its  life-sapping  foe,  and  at  length 
came  down  with  a  thundering  crash  upon  the  ground,  filling 
the  air  around  with  a  cloud  of  dust,  splinters,  broken  and  pow- 
dered limbs,  and  causing  the  earth  and  surrounding  woods  to 
rebound  at  the  shock.  When  the  obstructing  cloud  had  cleared 
away  from  the  spot,  our  observant  friends  beheld  the  object 
of  their  attention  nmunted  on  the  trunk  of  the  prostrate  tree, 
and  proceeding  to  mark  it  off  into  such  lengths  for  chopping, 
as  suited  her  purpose.  While  thus  engaged,  her  attention 
seemed  to  be  suddenly  arrested  by  something  she  observed 
about  the  house,  or  in  a  line  with  it  beyond.  Hastily  de- 
scending from  her  stand  on  the  trunk,  and  seizing  her  rifle, 
which  stood  at  the  foot  of  a  tree,  near  the  stump  of  the 
one  just  felled,  she  approached  with  a  rapid  step,  and  with 
some  appearance  of  concern,  till  within  a  few  rods  of  the 
house,  when  she  slackened  her  pace  and  soon  halted. 

^"^Tall,  stout  and  stately,"  said  Selden,  still  standing  with 
his  friend  so  near  the  window  as  to  have  a  fair  view  of  the 
person  of  their  hostess;  "tall,  stout  and  stately,"  he  repeated, 
running  his  admiring  eye  over  her  erect  and  imposing  figure; 
"face  and  features  even  yet  handsome,  despite  the  ravages 
and  cares  of  forty!  And  then  that  queenly  port!  Heavens! 
what  a  specimen  of  Eve's  daughters!  Surely,  Warrington, 
she  must  be  the  very  Juno  of  your  Green  Mountains!  But 
why  not  unbar  the  door,  and  go  out  to  meet  her?  We  shall 
appear  a  pretty  brace  of  heroes,  if  she  come  here  and  find 
us  hid  uy)  like  a  couple  of  runaways!  She  has  perceived  us 
I  presume,  but  is  doubtful  whotber  we  are  friends  or  foes." 

"Stay  a  moment,"  said  the  other,  who  had  been  regarding 
the  movements  of  the  womaii  quite  as  intently  as  his  friend, 
though  for   different   purposes;    "I   suspect  you   will   soon 


THE    GREEN    MOUNTAIN    BOYS.  49 

see  that  other  objects  than  ourselves  are  engrossing  her  atten- 
tion.'^ 

Scarcely  had  the  last  speaker  ceased,  when  they  caught  an 
oblique  view  of  the  approaching  forms  of  a  number  of  men, 
whom  they  instantly  recognized  to  be  Munroe  and  his  party. 
Hastily  retreating  from  the  window,  and  preparing  their  arms 
for  action,  should  their  use  become  necessary  either  for  de- 
fending themselves  within  the  house,  or  protecting  their  host- 
ess without,  our  two  friends  took  positions  at  small  apertures 
between  the  logs  of  the  wall,  where,  without  revealing  them- 
selves, they  could  easily  observe  their  foes,  and  stood  silently 
watching  the  progress  of  events  in  the  yard.  Meanwhile  the 
hardy  widow  had  planted  herself  directly  in  the  path  in  which 
the  Yorkers  were  approaching  from  the  main  road  to  her  door. 
And  now  boldly  advancing  and  confronting  them,  she  de- 
manded what  might  be  their  object  in  turning  into  a  lone 
woman's  dwelling. 

"Why,  my  good  woman,''  said  the  sheriff,  pausing  and  hes- 
itating in  evident  surprise  at  the  commanding  appearance 
and  determined  tone  of  the  person  he  was  addressing;  "we 
are  all  as  hungry  as  so  many  kites,  after  the  long  morning's 
march  we  have  had;  and  now  can't  you  contrive  to  work  up 
something  in  the  shape  of  breakfast  for  us?" 

"I  know  of  but  two  reasons,  sir,  why  I  may  not  comply  with 
your  request,"  replied  the  woman,  with  an  air  of  quiet  scorn. 

"iVnd  what  may  that  be,  woman?"  asked  Munroe,  in  doubt 
as  to  the  drift  of  her  discourse. 

"The  lack  of  means,  and  the  lack  of  inclination,  sir,"  re- 
joined the  other  in  the  same  calm  and  scornful  manner. 

"Short  and  svveet,"  said  Munroe;  "but  I  think  we  can  re- 
move your  objections  easily  enough,  mistress;  my  men  here 
have  a  plenty  of  salt  junk,  and  some  bread,  which  will  make 
out  the  main  materials  for  a  meal;  so  you  will  have  nothing 
to  do  but  cook  and  serve  up  for  us,  and  if  we  pay  you  well 
for  your  trouble  this  will  cure  both  your  objections  at  once  I 
suppose." 

"Think  you,  sir,  I  would  be  hired  to  serve  a  Yorker  of  3'our 
stamp?"  replied  the  woman  with  increasing  disdain;  "why 
the  money  got  in  that  manner  would  burn  through  my  pock- 
ets as  quick  as  if  it  came  to  the  call  of  one  in  league  with  the 
arch  fiend,  and  all  hissing  hot  from  the  burning  mfet  in 
the  regions  below!  Even  the  very  food  bought  with  it  would 
4 


50  THE    GREEN    MOUNTAIN    BOYS. 

stick  my  throat,  and  poison  my  children  to  death  in  ihe  eat- 
ing/' 

"Tut,  tut!  madam  madcaj^!"  exclaimed  the  sheriff,  resum- 
ing his  wonted  roughness,  and  now  beginning  to  chafe  under 
the  biting  sarcasm  of  the  other;  "you  show  about  as  much 
of  the  tartar  as  anything  I  have  met  with  in  my  travels  for 
a  long  while.  I  wish  the  rebels  much  joy  in  their  petticoat 
champion!  But  it  is  time  to  look  a  little  to  such  as  you. 
The  authorities  of  the  king  are  neither  to  be  resisted  nor 
insulted  with  impunity  you  will  do  well  to  bear  in  mind,  j)er- 
haps." 

"Cowards  are  always  allowed  the  privilege  of  blustering 
before  women,''  tartly  rejoined  the  other;  "your  threats,  val- 
iant sheriff,  vvdil  hurt  me  about  as  much,  probably,  as  they 
frighten  me,  and  if  anything  further  is  attempted,  you  will 
find  I  can  defend  myself." 

"We  will  see,  my  trooper!"  muttered  Munroe,  making  a 
sudden  movement  towards  the  other,  apparently  to  disarm 
or  seize  her. 

Eluding  his  grasp,  and  hastily  retreating  a  few  steps,  the 
fearless  woman  cocked  her  rifle  and  brought  it  to  her  shoul- 
der. "Another  step  towards  me,  sir,  and  your  blood  be  on 
your  own  head,"  she  cried,  in  a  cool,  determined  tone. 

"Hang  me !"  exclaimed  Munroe,  after  standing  a  moment  in 
mute  surprise  at  this  bold  and  unexpected  movement  of  the 
woman,  who,  he  began  to  suspect,  could  scarcely  have  been 
brought  to  show  such  singular  fearlessness,  but  from  a  knowl- 
edge that  help  was  near;  "hang  me  if  I  don't  believe  the  ter- 
magant is  standing  guard  to  some  of  those  skuUdng  outlaws, 
whom  she  has  concealed  in  the  house!  We  must  see  to  this 
immediately,"  he  continued,  moving  round  his  opponent 
toward  the  house,  and  beckoning  his  men  to  follow. 

"0,  is  that  all  you  want,"  said  the  widow,  taking  her  piece 
in  her  hand,  and  moving  aside  with  the  air  of  one  relieved 
from  a  personal  fear;  you  are  welcome  to  all  the  outlaws  you 
will  find  here,  but  you  must  beware  how  you  attempt  to  touch 
me.  However,  you  had  better  look  out  for  yourself,  brave 
sheriff,"  she  added  in  a  sneering  laugh;  "take  care,  sir,  that 
pome  of  those  terrible  Green  j\fountain  Boys  concealed  within 
there,  don't  blow  you  through  the  head  with  their  rifles!" 

^^The  door  is  fastened,  viornm"  said  Muwroe,  fts  stepping  ijp, 


THE   GREEN   MOUNTAIN   BOYS.  51 

he  tried  in  vain  to  open  it;  "the  door  is  fastened  on  the  in- 
side; see  that  it  is  opened,  or  I  will  force  it!'^ 

"0,  no,  no!  why,  you  would  spoil  my  door,  man!"  cried 
the  widow,  with  the  utmost  apparent  concern  for  the  safety 
of  her  door;  ^'yes,  ruin  it  entirely,  ^t would  cost  me  a  hard  dol- 
lar to  get  it  mended.  I  forgot  to  tell  you  it  was  harred  up 
inside.  We  do  not  stay  here  nights  for  fear  of  the  visits  of 
such  strolling  gentry  as  yourselves.  But  if  you  really  wish  to 
handle  over  my  greasy  pots  and  kettles,  or  crawl  under  my 
beds,  you  can  go  in  as  I  came  out,  by  going  up  on  the  ends 
of  the  logs  at  the  corner  yonder,  and  removing  a  piece  of  that 
bark  roof." 

"But  honestW,  woman,  have  you  seen  nothing  of  Warring- 
ton and  his  band  this  way  last  night,  or  this  morning?"  asked 
the  sheriff,  his  suspicions  seeming  to  be  pretty  much  allayed 
by  the  well  managed  demeanor  and  conduct  of  the  other. 

"Warrington — Warrington,"  said  she,  musingly,  as  if  at- 
tempting to  recall  the  name  of  one  whom  she  might  have 
perhaps  heard;  "not  Captain  Warrington?  Yes,  I  have  heard 
of  him  I  am  sure.  Is  he  in  this  section?  Where  is  he?  I 
should  like  to  see  that  brave  fellow.  Why,  he  was  the  one 
that  so  handsomely  beech-sealed  one  of  the  York  authorities 
doAvn  Bennington  way,  last  year — now  what  was  his  name — I 
will  think  in  a  minute — ^" 

"0,  no  matter,  no  matter,^'  hastily  interrupted  the  sheriff, 
unwilling  that  the  story  of  his  own  former  discomfiture 
should  be  made  known  to  his  present  followers;  "come  boys," 
he  continued,  moving  away  from  the  house  and  calling  to  his 
men;  "we  shan^t  be  able  to  make  anything  out  of  this  crab- 
stick  of  a  woman,  so  we  may  as  well  be  on  the  move  again, 
and  as  Ave  have  lost  our  guide,  instead  of  going  back  through 
the  woods,  we  will  go  up  the  Creek  to  the  ford,  and  then  down 
the  military  road  to  Ticonderoga." 

"Adroitl]^  done,  by  heavens!"  exclaimed  Selden  to  his  com- 
panion, as  the  sounds  of  the  retreating  footsteps  of  their 
foes  died  away  on  their  ears;  "the  woman^s  tact  has  saved  us, 
to  say  the  least.  Captain,  from  a  troublesome  contest.  But 
shall  I  now  unbar  the  door?" 

"jSTo — let  her  continue  to  manage  in  her  own  way,"  re- 
plied the  other;  "the  Yorkers  may  take  it  into  their  heads  to 
stop  and  reconii alter  the  house  awhile  from  the  woods.  And 
she  may  deem  it  prudent  to  guard  against  their  making  any 


52  THE    GRBEN    MOUNTAIN    BOYS. 

discoveries  in  that  way  b}^  remaining  a  while  without,  or  by 
entering  the  house  in  the  manner  she  pointed  out  to  Munroe." 

Tlie  woodsvroman,  if  the  term  be  admissible,  wary  as  she 
was  fearless,  immediately  adopted  one  of  the  precautions  an- 
ticipated by  Warrington.  And  the  sheriff  and  his  posse 
had  no  sooner  fairly  disappeared  in  the  forest  than  our  friends 
heard  her  mounting  the  house,  removing  one  of  the  broad 
pieces  of  spruce  bark  v/hich  constituted  the  rude  covering  of 
the  roof,  and  descending  into  the  chamber  or  garret  above 
them.  In  another  moment  she  stood  before  them  with  a  coun- 
tenance animated  with  a  look  of  triumph  and  a  smile  of  con- 
gratulation. 

"^ow  a  thousand  thanks  to  Mistress  Story,"  warmly  ex- 
claimed Warrington,  after  presenting  his  friend  and  exchang- 
ing the  ordinary  salutations;  "a  thousand  thanks,  not  only  for 
3^esterday^s  timely  notice,  but  for  the  shield  which  a  woman's 
tact  only  could  have  so  successfull}^  thrown  over  us  this  morn- 
ing! But  how  came,  you  apprised  that  we  were  in  possession 
of  your  castle,  as  we  vrere  without  the  shadov/  of  a  license 
from  its  owner?" 

'Tartly  anticipating  a  visit  from  some  of  you^"  replied  the 
widow,  "I  purposely  left  the  door  unfastened  when  we  left 
last  night.  And  a  peep  through  the  cracks  w^hen  I  returned 
this  morning,  and  found  it  barred,  told  me  very  nearly  the 
character  of  the  occupants.  But  you  don^t  know,"  she  added, 
jocosely,  '%ow  sorely  I  was  tempted,  as  I  saw  3''ou  lying  there 
on  the  floor  asleep,  as  helpless  as  children,  to  creep  in,  bind 
you,  deliver  you  over  to  Munroe,  and  claim  the  reward!" 

"When  you  v»'as  praying,  'lead  us  not  into  temptation,'  at 
this  moment  of  your  trial,"  said  Warrington,  laughingl}^ 
"and  thought  of  the  next  sentence,  ^deliver  us  from  evil,'  you 
concluded  it  best  to  take  sides  with  the  Green  Mountain 
Boys, — did  you?" 

"Why,"  replied  she,  "it  might  certainly  be  a  matter  of  some 
consideration,  who  it  were  v/isest  to  make  friends  and  who 
foes,  in  such  a  case;  and  especially  so  since  it  now  seems  that 
ten  Yorkers  can  be  put  to  flight  hy  one  old  woman." 

"Ay,  ay!"  gayly  responded  the  Captain;  "and  that  fact, 
sir,"  he  added,  turnin.ff  with  an  arch  look  to  Selden,  "shows 
the  wisdom  of  the  doubts  and  appreliensions  you  seemed  to 
entertain  last  night  in  approaching,  Avithout  leave,  the  house 
of  one  who  might  become  so  formidable  a  foe." 


THE    GREEN    MOUNTAIN    BOYS.  53 

"I  should  be  sorry  to  spoil  the  Captain's  joke/'  replied  Sel- 
den,  in  the  same  spirit;  "'but  in  taking  possession  thus  un- 
ceremoniously, I  think  we  both  depended  somewhat  on  the 
effect  of  the  peace  ottering  we  brouglit,"  he  continued,  point- 
ing to  the  game  suspended  on  the  wall,  "in  appeasing  the 
household  gods  for  the  outrage." 

"An  ample  atonement!"  said  the  dame,  "so  much  so,  indeed, 
that  I  suspect  my  nine  little  hungry  household  gods  will 
think  the  obligation  wholly  on  their  side.  Yes,  yes,  that 
mark  of  your  kindness,  gentlemen,  I  noticed  when  I  took  my 
stolen  peep  in  here,  and  my  heart  has  been  thanking  you  ever 
since;  for  my  larder,  as  you  may  v/ell  imagine,  is  none  of  the 
fullest,  considering  the  number  depending  upon  it.  It  makes 
my  heart  ache  to  put  the  little  kites  on  so  short  an  allowance, 
as  I  am  often  compelled  to  do  here,  in  a  place  so  difficult  to 
obtain  provisions." 

"But  where  are  your  children?"  asked  Warrington. 

"My  children?  all  in  T'other  World,  sir!"  replied  the 
woman,  with  a  sort  of  mock  gravity. 

"In  the  other  world!  vrhat  can  the  woman  mean?"  asked 
Warrington,  turning  a  puzzled  look  upon  his  hostess.  *'But 
for  the  mention  you  have  just  made  of  your  children,  and  your 
roguish  looks,  vrhich  belie  your  assertions,  one  might  be  star- 
tled at  the  import  of  your  vrords!" 

"i^ot  so  much  of  a  belieing,  neither,"  said  the  woman,  "but 
come,  we  will  open  Sesame  now,"  she  continued,  proceeding 
to  unbar  the  door,  "and  after  seeing  if  my  brood  cannot  be^ 
conjured  back  into'the  world  again,  for  the  purpose  of  assist- 
ing me,  and  quieting  your  apprehensions  for  their  safety. 
Captain,  we  will  see  what  can  be  done  in  the  way  of  break- 
fast." 

"Let  me  attend  you  to  witness  the  process  of  conjuration," 
said  Warrington,  who  had  more  reasons  for  making  the  re- 
quest than  were  known  to  either  of  his  companions. 

"jSTo,  sir,  no!  keep  house  till  I  return,  or,  my  word  for  it, 
you  get  no  breakfast  this  time,"  replied  the  other  in  a  sport- 
ive, yet  determined  manner,  as  she  quitted  the  house  on  her 
proposed  errand,  leaving  her  guests  to  indulge  in  such  con- 
jectures as  they  chose  respecting  the  place  to  which  she  had 
gone  to  summon  her  concealed  family.  They  were  not  al- 
lowed much  time,  however,  for  discussing  this  curious  ques- 
tion; for  in  a  short  time  their  ears  were  saluted  bv  the  min- 


54  THE    GREEN    MOUNTAIN    BOYS. 

glecl  sounds  of  jabbering  voices  approaching  from  the  woods 
in  the  rear  of  the  house^  and  in  a  moment  more  the  dame  came 
np  to  the  door,  with  her  nearly  half-score  of  hardy  little 
urchins  trooping  along  in  noisy  glee  at  her  side. 

^'I  will  shake  hands  with  the  young  captain  first!"  exclaimed 
one  of  the  boys,  endeavoring  to  outstrip  the  rest,  as  they  all 
made  a  rush  at  the  door. 

"You  shan't!''  vociferated  another,  springing  forward,  and 
eagerly  elbowing  his  way  through  the  throng  that  was  now 
choking  up  the  entrance.  "I  say  you  shan't  now,  Dick!  He 
likes  me  best;   Ned,  3'ou  hold  him  back!" 

"I  don't  care,  I  will  have  the  first  kith!"  cried  a  lisping  little 
image  of  her  mother;  "I  will,  mayn't  1,  ma?"  she  added, 
throwing  back  her  long  unfettered  hair  from  before  her  laugh- 
ing black  eyes  with  a  pretty  toss  of  the  head,  and  entering 
with  high  glee  into  the  keen  strife  going  forward  for  obtain- 
ing the  first  notice  of  one,  who,,  in  former  calls  at  the  house, 
seemed  to  have  mad-e  warm  friends  of  the  whole  band  of  these 
tiny  rivals  for  his  favors. 

The  next  moment  the  person  of  Warrington,  like  that  of 
Gulliver  among  the  Lilliputians,  v/as  almost  literally  covered 
by  the  little  beings,  two  sitting  on  each  knee,  shaking  his 
imprisoned  hands  with  all  their  might;  the  little  Julia  stand- 
ing between,  turning  up  her  pretty  cheek  invitingly  for  the 
expected  kiss,  which,  for  all  her  declaration,  instinctive  mod- 
esty forbade  her  to  ask  for;  one  or  two  hold  of  each  arm,  and 
one  more  daring  and  active  than  the  rest,  having  clambered 
aloft,  was  sitting  astride  the  neck,  and  crowing  aloud  over  the 
rest  from  his  elevated  situation;  while  all  were  clinging, 
laughing  and  chattering  like  a  bevy  of  monkeys  exhibiting 
on  an  elephant,  at  the  show  of  some  traveling  menagerie. 

Those  fashionable  misanthropes  of  the  Rochefacauldt  or 
Lacon  school,  who  are  forever  moralizing  and  mourning  over 
t]ie  selfishness  of  man;  who  can  see  no  unadulterated  benevo- 
lence, no  disinterested  friendship  in  the  moral  deserts  of  the 
human  heart,  might  find  one  oasis,  at  least,  to  relieve  their 
jaundiced  vision,  and  go  to  refute  the  sweeping  dictums  of 
their  cold  and  cheerless  philosophy,  would  they  but  turn 
their  eyes  to  the  artless  actions,  and  examine  the  untutored 
and  guileless  hearts  of  children.  How  spontaneous  their  af- 
fections! With  what  intuitive  and  unerring  certainty  and 
quickness  they  single  out  those  who  love  them,  whether  kin- 


THE    GREEN    MOUNTAIN    BOYS.  55 

dred  or  stranger;  and  with  what  confiding  readiness  and  gen- 
erous ardor  is  the  friendship  tliiis  bestowed  upon  tliem  for- 
ever reciprocated;  and  that,  too,  witli  no  detracting  alloy 
of  selfish  feeling,  no  worldl}'  calculating  of  results,  and  no 
influencing  consideration  of  interest!  Verily!  while  they  go 
to  school  to  us  for  the  improvement  of  the  head,  methinks  it 
would  be  well  for  us  if  the  tables  were  so  far  turned,  that  they 
could  become  our  only  instructors  in  the  lessons  of  the  heart. 

The  dame  now  calling  oil  such  of  her  children  as  she  needed 
to  assist  her,  and  dispatching  one  for  water,  another'for  wood, 
and  a  third  to  go  on  some  whispered  destination,  proceeded 
rapidly  in  her  preparations  for  the  promised  repast.  And  in 
a  short  space  of  time,  a  tempting  meal  from  the  offering  of 
her  guests  was  smoking  on  the  table.  The  meal,  which  was 
enlivened  by  a  recital  of  the  adventures  of  the  band  the  pre- 
ceding evening,  was  no  sooner  ended,  than  Selden,  rising  first 
from  the  table,  departed,  at  the  suggestion  of  his  superior, 
to  see  that  the  party  at  the  other  house  were  ready  to  com- 
mence their  march. 

'"N'ow,  Captain,  where  are  you  going  with  your  men?"  ear- 
nestly asked  the  widow%  as  soon  as  Selden  was  fairly  gone; 
^'I  have  reasons  for  wishing  to  know.^' 

Warrington,  after  a  slight  hesitation,  imparted  the  desired 
information. 

**Will  3"ou  make  me  one  promise?"  resumed  the  woman, 
"and  at  the  same  time  receive  from  me  in  kindness  one  cau- 
tion?" 

^'On  conditions,  I  will  venture  to  say  yes." 

^'What  may  they  be  ?  If  anything  that  I  can  properly  com- 
ply v^'ith — " 

"I  would  impose  no  other  terms,  certainly — so  now  for  the 
promise  you  would  exact?'' 

"Simply  this. — that  the  family,  with  whom  the  young  In- 
dian I  sent  you  last  evening  resides — no  question  now  about 
their  names  or  residence! — that  this  family,  I  say,  shall 
not  be  molested,  should  you  or  your  men  ever  come  across 
them.  They  hold  under  a  York  title,  to  be  sure,  but  turned 
no  one  off  to  get  possession.     Will  you  promise?" 

"For  your  sake,  and  the  Indian^s  sake,  if  the  facts  are  as 
you  state,  I  will  promise  my  influence  in  their  behalf." 

"ISTow  hear  my  caution — beware  of  that  fellow  you  chas- 


56  THE    GREEN    MOUNTAIN    BOYS. 

tised  last  night — beware  of  that  Sherwood — he  will  be  a  ser- 
pent in  your  path." 

"Do  yon  know  him?" 

"I  think  I  do,  but  must  say  no  more.  And  now,  let's  hear 
your  conditions." 

"Only  that  you  shall  expound  my  dream^  or  vision,  of  last 
night." 

"A  dream!  vision!" 

"Yes!  a  something,  at  all  events,  which  conveyed  to  my  ear, 
as  I  thought,  the  sounds  of  a  voice  discoursing  most  heavenly 
music." 

"A  sleeping  or  a  waking  dream?" 

"The  latter,  I  afterwards  made  up  my  mind  to  believe,  as 
the  readiest  way  of  solving  the  mystery;  but  this  morning  I 
have  begun  to  suspect — ^" 

"At  what  time  last  night,  and  on  what  particular  spot,  did 
this  strange  trance  fall  on  you,  sir?"  interrupted  the  widow 
in  a  bantering  tone,  which  was  accompanied,  however,  with  a 
look  betraying  considerable  curiosity  and  uneasiness. 

"0,  about  the  usual  time  of  such  visitations — the  witching 
hour  of  midnight.  And  the  scene  should  be  laid,  I  think, 
more  particularly  than  at  any  other  spot,  near  the  foot  of  a 
certain  charmed  tree,  or  rather  the  hollow  trunk  of  one, 
standing  not  far  from  the  bank  of  the  Creek  down  here,  to 
which,  leaving  my  companion  asleep,  I  had  wandered  alone 
to  shake  off  a  fit  of  watchfulness  that  the  spirits  of  the  air,  or 
something  else,  had  unaccountably  sent  me." 

"And  did  you  relate  your  adventures  to  your  companion, 
on  your  return  or  since?" 

"No!" 

"That  settles  the  question  with  me,  then,  as  to  what  I  should 
now  do,"  seriously  observed  the  woman;  "Captain  Warring- 
ton, I  clearly  see  that  you  have  accidentally,  and  very  sin- 
gularly, hit  upon  a  clue  to  matters  which  I  thought  most 
prudent  to  conceal,  even  from  you,  friend  to  the  settlers  and 
my  family  as  you  are.     Follow  me,  and  you  shall  know  more." 

So  saying,  with  rapid  step  she  led  the  way  in  silence  toward 
the  Creek,  closely  followed  by  her  guest,  eager  to  witness  the 
promised  development.  Passing  directly  by  the  hollow  tree, 
to  which  she  pointed  with  a  significant  smile  as  they  went 
along,  she  conducted  him  to  the  brink  of  the  high,  steep 
bank,  which  was  here  covered  with  a  thick  growth  of  young 


THE    GREEN    MOUNTAIN    BOYS.  57 

evergreen,  whose  tangled  boughs  overhung  the  waters  below. 
Now  grasping  firmly  ho],d  of  a  projecting  root,  she  swung  her- 
self down  on  to  a  narrow^  shelf  or  offset  in  the  bank,  a  few 
feet  above  the  surface  of  the  water.  As  soon  as  this  posi- 
tion was  gained  by  them  both,  she  proceeded  along  the  shelf 
a  few  yards,  and,  removing  a  small  fir-tree  top,  which  had 
been,  to  all  appearances,  blown  down  the  bank,  disclosed  the 
mouth  of  a  narrow  passage  running  back  horizontally  into  the 
earth.  Into  this  she  immediately  entered,  still  followed  by 
her  companion.  After  groping  their  way  about  a  rod  through 
the  dark  zigzag  windings  of  this  passage,  they  emerged  into 
a  spacious  room,  formed  entirely  by  an  artificial  excavation 
of  the  earth,  which,  from  a  beginning  at  the  outside,  had  been 
removed  in  small  parcels  and  thrown  into  the  stream,  till  the, 
Tvhole  was  completed.  The  walls  or  s^".des,  which  had  been  cut 
down  perpendicularly  from  the  solid  mould  and  plastered  over 
with  thin  mud,  now  presented  a  hard  compact  surface.  The 
ceiling,  which  was  in  the  form  of  an  arch,  coming,  probably, 
at  the  top  or  center,  within  a  foot  ot  the  surface  above,  was 
supported  by  the  thickly  spreading  roots  of  the  trees,  stand- 
ing, many  of  them,  directly  over  the  excavation,  and  form- 
ing a  kind  of  net-work,  curiousl}',  and  so  strongl}^  interwoven 
as  effectually  to  prevent  the  earth  from  caving  in  from  above. 
The  whole  interior  w^as  divided  into  two  parts  of  unequal 
dimensions  by  a  slight  willow-work  partition,  the  lesser  of 
which,  being  designed  for  the  sleeping  apartment,  was  neatly 
car]3eted  with  a  thick  dry  moss,  collected  from  the  spruce 
knolls  in  the  vicinity;  while  on  one  side  was  extended,  at  suit- 
able intervals,  a  row  of  little  oblong  platforms,  raised  about  a 
foot  above  the  general  level  by  repeated  doublings  of  the  same 
light,  springy  substance.  These,  on  which  were  laid  such 
beds  as  the  occupant  could  furnish,  afforded,  with  or  without 
any  further  additions,  soft  and  pleasant  couches,  safely  pro- 
tected against  the  damps  of  a  ground  floor.  Beside  one  of  the 
walls  of  the  larger  room  was  a  rude  fire-place,  constructed  of 
fiat  stones,  and  built  up  several  feet  high  to  receive  fuel  and 
give  direction  to  the  smoke,  which,  ascending  through  a  sort 
of  retreating  flue  cut  into  the  bank,  escaped  through  the  cavity 
of  the  identical  hollow  stub  that  Warrington  had  discovered 
to  be  in  some  way  connected  with  the  m3^sterious  melody  heard 
by  him  the  evening  before. 

"This,  Captain  Warrington/^  said  the  dame,  after  showing 


58  THE   GREEN   MOUNTAIN   BOYS. 

her  admiring  guest  every  part  of  her  subterraneous  establish- 
ment, which  she  had  Ht  up  on  entering  by  throwing  a  few 
light  combustibles  on  the  fire  still  remaining  on  the  hearth; 
"this  is  my  city  of  refuge — my  strong-hold,  or  my  '^T'other 
World/  as  I  have  accustomed  myself  and  children  to  call  it, 
fancying,  in  my  wish  to  keep  the  secret  of  its  existence  to  our- 
selves, that  some  such  name  would  lessen  the  chances  of  a 
discovery  which  might  accidentally  be  made,  perhaps,  by  re- 
ferring to  it  before  others  by  a  proper  designation.  It  was 
dug  out  by  myself  and  my  little  bo3's,  who  took  to  digging  as 
naturally  as  young  foxes,  and  greatly  assisted  me.  My  neigh- 
bor below,  however,  aided  me  in  the  most  difficult  parts  of 
the  work;  and  in  case  of  danger  he  is  to  occupy  it  with  me." 

"But  what  were  the  immediate  dangers  you  apprehended, 
that  led  you  to  so  uncommon  an  undertaking?'^  asked  the 
other. 

"For  myself  I  might  feel,  perhaps,  no  apprehensions,''  re- 
plied the  provident  mother.  "For  my  children  I  feel  differ- 
ently. All  parents.  Captain,  however  brave  they  may  be  for 
themselves,  are  ahvays  cowards  for  their  children.  No  real 
dangers,  it  is  true,  might  beset  us  here  for  years;  and  then 
again,  they  might  come  like  a  thief  in  the  night.  To  say 
nothing  of  the  heartless  Yorkers,  who  might  burn  my  house, 
or  turn  us  out  shelterless  into  the  snow — to  say  nothing  of 
the  wolves  that  have  been  known,  in  the  desperation  of  hunger, 
to  attack  folks  in  their  houses — to  say  nothing  of  these,  which 
are  sufficiently  fearful  for  most  people,  what  security  have  we, 
in  these  outposts  of  the  settlement,  even  in  times  of  peace, 
against  a  hostile  visit  from  the  Indians?  But  when,  as  now, 
the  rumors  of  war  come  floating  on  every  breeze,  that  danger  is 
daily  increasing.  The  sad  experience  of  my  father's  family, 
wdio  vv'ere  half  slain  by  these  hell-hounds  of  the  wilderness  at 
the  outbreak  of  the  last  war,  has  taught  me  the  wisdom  of 
precaution.  In  peace  they  are  even  to  be  distrusted;  and 
the  first  rimior  of  war  that  strikes  their  ears  will  put  them  to 
v/hetting  their  knives  for  slaughter;  while  they  are  sure  to 
anticipate  the  coming  contest  by  striking  the  first  blow  on  the 
dcfenselcpp  families  of  the  frontiers.  I^ow  with  these  views, 
is  it  strange,"  she  added  with  a  smile,  "that  the  mother  of 
nine  children,  with  but  one  neighbor  within  miles  of  her, 
should  foresee  the  evil  and  hide  herself?" 

"Surely  not,"  replied  Warrington,  struck  not  less  by  the 


THE    GREEN    MOUNTAIN    BOYS.  59 

forcible  language  of  the  woman,  than  by  her  prudent  fore- 
cast; "you  are  right  in  believing  that  the  storm  of  a  new  war 
is  gathering  over  us;  and  if  you  think  of  remaining  here, 
these  precautions  are  but  the  part  of  wisdom,  as  we  know 
not  when  or  where  the  storm  may  burst.  But  do  you  occupy 
this  retreat  every  night,  now?'' 

"We  do.'' 

"You  enter  as  we  did,  taking  your  children  down  the  bank, 
I  suppose?" 

"Sometimes,  but  more  generally  by  approaching  from  the 
Creek  in  my  canoe  (which  is  kept  hid  in  the  bushes  a  few 
rods  below),  lest  by  coming  down  the  bank  constantly,  we 
wear  a  path  which  might  lead  to  a  discovery  of  our  retreat." 

"And  you  all  lodged  here  last  night,  of  course?" 

"Yes." 

"Part  of  the  mystery,  then,  stands  explained — why  should 
the  rest  be  kept  back?" 

"What  is  there  more  that  you  do  not  comprehend?" 

"The  singing — " 

"Mght  have  been  my  own,  if  you  heard  any.  You  never 
heard  any  of  my  lullaby  performances  before,  I  suj^pose?" 
said  the  woman,  with  an  evasive  smile. 

"No,  but  I  have  once  heard  the  performances  of  another, 
whose  voice  is  not  easily  to  be  forgotten,"  replied  Warrington, 
turning  a  keen,  searching  gaze  on  the  slightly  confused  face 
of  the  widow. 

"Warrington,  Warrington!"  said  the  woman,  resuming  a 
tone  of  seriousness, 'and  intently  reading  the  looks  of  the 
other;  "as  much  as  I  hate  deception,  I  wish  I  could  have  mis- 
led you.  But  I  saw  by  your  disappointed  looks,  when  you  en- 
tered, and  glanced  around  these  empty  apartments,  that  you 
expected  to  find  here  what  you  have  not.  And  I  now  see, 
that  you  still  have  certain  impressions,  which  I  wish  could 
have  been  done  awav.  But  as  vou  seem  bent  on  following 
up  your  clue,  I  will  not  attempt  to  mislead  you.  From  what 
I  have  gathered  from  you  and  others,  I  have  for  some  time 
secretly  suspected  the  identity  of  persons  yet  supposed  to  be 
different,  and  that  I  have  long  known  those  whose  present  resi- 
dence you  have  little  dreamed  of:  Captain  Warrington,  there 
is  indeed  a  rose-bud  in  this  wilderness,  which  I  should  not 
}i^ye  beeij  displeetsed  to  see  placeii  in  jqut  jbosoni.    Biit  seek 


60  THE    GREEN    MOUNTAIN   BOYS. 


it  not  now — tliere  is  a  liedge  about  it  too  high  for  your  leap- 
ing." 

^^Where  is  she?  I  ask  but  to  know  wliere/^  inquired  the 
other  with  impatient  eagerness. 

"Not  here,  nor  near  here,  now,"  replied  the  woman;  "the 
secret  is  not  mine  to  reveal:  I  have  said  too  miTch  already; 
so  question  me  no  farther.  But  come,  let  us  leave  for  the 
upper  world,"  she  added,  rapidly  leading  the  way  out,  and 
allowing  the  other  no  further  chance  to  resume  his  importu- 
nities till  they  had  gained  the  top  of  the  bank. 

"'But  surely  you  will  not  leave  the  matter  here,  after  inform- 
ing me  so  far?"  said  Warrington,  in  an  expostulating  tone, 
as  he  perceived  that  the  other  seemed  to  expect  that  he  would 
now  depart. 

'•For  the  present,  I  surely  shall,"  replied  the  woman,  decid- 
edly; "you  will  urge  in  vain  one  who  understands  her  duties 
to  all!  Go!  your  mien  await  you — good  morning,  and  God 
speed  you  in  the  cause  of  the  settlers,"  and  im.periously  wav- 
ing her  hand  for  the  departure  of  her  reluctant  and  tantal- 
ized guest,  she  suddenly  turned  away  and  disappeared  in  the 
forest. 


CHAPTEE  YI. 


"The  sons  of  our  mountains  will  slieath  not  the  brand 
Till  the  last  base  intruder  is  forced  from  the  land." 


One  of  the  most  considerable  openings  in  the  wildern&ss 
in  the  northwestern  part  of  the  New  Hampshire  Grants,  at 
the  period  of  our  story,  was  at  the  Lower  Falls  of  Otter  Creek, 
at  the  head  of  the  lake  navigation  of  that  stream,  and  on  and 
around  that  fine  and  fertile  swell  of  land,  now  occupied  as 
the  site  of  a  pleasant  and  flourishing  village,  to  which,  as 
before  mentioned,  the  more  dignified  name  of  city  has  long 
since  been  legally  applied;  though  not  without  sometimes 
eliciting,  probably  from  the  traveler  approaching  the  place 
with  the  expectations  which  the  appellation  would  naturally 
raise,  a  feeling,  somewhat  akin,  perhaps,  to  that  which  misht 
be  experienced  on  hearing  the  address  of  My  Lord  aiDplied 


THE    GREEN    MOUNTAIN    BOYS.  61 

to  some  urcliiii  scion  of  nobility,  at  marbles,  in  his  first  jacket 
and  trousers.  A  pitcli  had  been  made  on  this  spot,  some  years 
before,  by  one  or  more  of  the  New  Hampshire  patentees,  a 
saw  and  grist  mill  erected,  and  a  large  piece  of  forest  felled  and 
partially  cleared;  when  the  whole  tract,  embracing  the  Falls 
and  all  the  improvements,  was  purchased  of  some  of  the  York 
land  jobbers  by  one  Colonel  Eeed.  Eeed  had  been  the  com- 
mander of  a  regiment  of  Scotch  Highlanders,  that  came  over 
with  General  Wolfe,  and  was  engaged  with  his  army  in  that 
memorable  battle  which  gave  Quebec  and  the  Canadas  to  the 
British  crown.  This  regiment  having  been  subsequently  dis- 
banded, the  Colonel,  still  continuing  in  the  new  vv'orld,  and, 
in  his  intercourse  between  Canada  and  ISTew  York,  becoming 
acquainted  with  the  Averment  lands,  entered  into  the  specula- 
tions then  going  forward,  and  made  the  purchase  as  above 
stated.  Finding  his  new  purchase  already  in  the  occupancy 
of  the  New  Hampshire  grantees,  and  not  inclined  to  be  both- 
ered with  the  delays  of  a  civil  process  by  the  York  authorities 
to  put  him  in  possession,  what  should  this  military  land  spec- 
ulator do  but  repair  immediately  to  Montreal,  and,  collecting 
a  file  of  his  old  disbanded  soldiers,  go  on,  armed  and  provis- 
ioned, to  conquer  and  keep,  and  forcibly  drive  the  occupants 
from  the  ground,  taking  possession  of  the  mills,  lumber,  and 
all  other  improvements?  After  making  ample  provisions  for 
continuing  the  improvement  of  his  purchase,  he  left  it  to  be 
managed  and  defended  by  the  men  who  came  on  with  him, 
placed  under  the  command  of  one  of  his  old  fear-naught 
Highlanders,  hy  the  "name  of  Donald  Mcintosh,  formerly  a 
bT:aA^e  and  trusty  sergeant  in  his  regiment,  to  whom  he  now  de- 
livered vrritten  military  instructions,  setting  forth  the  manner 
in  which  the  improvements  were  to  be  conducted,  and  the 
post  defended  against  any,  or  all,  who  should  offer  to  intrude 
on  the  premises.  The  Colonel,  being  a  shrewd  man,  and  a 
close  observer  o"f  character,  national  as  well  as  individual,  and 
well  knowing  the  inherent  respect  of  Scotchmen  for  discipline, 
and  the  orders  of  a  superior,  would  insure  him  more  deter- 
mined defenders  of  his  possessions,  as  well  as  more  faithful 
laborers  in  their  im.provement,  than  all  the  rewards,  bribes, 
or  other  inducements  he  could  offer,  had  thrown  over  the 
whole  transaction  the  appearance  of  a  military  service.  And, 
hiring  his  men  at  the  monthly  compensation  they  had  for- 
merl}^  received  as  soldiers,  and  terming  it  an  enlistment  during 


62  THE    GREEN    MOUNTAIN    BOYS. 

tlie  war,  and  conducting  them  to  their  post  nnder  the  disci- 
pline to  which  they  had  been  accustomed  in  the  army,  he 
had  the  address  to  make  these  men,  not  the  most  intelHgent, 
certainly,  honestly  believe  that  they  were  acting  under  their 
old  commander,  in  a  military  capacity  only,  and  were  really 
in  the  service  of  the  king,  to  whom  this  settlement,  they  were 
told,  was  in  a  state  of  rebellion.  And  right  faithfully  and  rig- 
idly did  the  straight-going  Donald,  ever  continuing  to  act 
under  these  impressions,  execute  the  trust  committed  to  his 
charge.  Immediatel}^  proceeding  to  throw  up  a  large  log- 
house,  and  inclose  a  yard  around  it  with  a  heav}^,  compact 
fence  of  hewn  timber,  he  soon  gave  the  post  such  an  impreg- 
nable and  threatening  aspect  as  effectually  deterred  the  former 
occupants  from  attempting,  vv^ith  any  force  they  could  rally 
in  the  neighborhood,  to  dislodge  the  intruders.  And,  after 
watching  awhile  and  seeing  no  diminution  of  the  strength  of 
their  antagonists,  or  relaxation  of  their  caution,  these  ejected 
and  plundered  settlers,  who  happened  to  be  among  the  less 
spirited  of  their  countrymen,  at  length  pretty  much  relin- 
quished the  hope  of  regaining  their  possessions,  except  in  a 
favorable  termination  of  the  negotiation  still  going  forward 
at  intervals  between  the  settlers  and  the  government  of  New 
York. 

In  this  manner,  f3r  nearly  two  years,  did  the  minions  of 
Eeed  hold  and  manage  these  valuable  possessions,  clearing 
land,  raising  crops,  and  exporting  lumber  and  other  products, 
without  being  at  all  molested  by  the  settlers,  or  the  attending 
circumstances  being  known,  indeed,  to  those  who  had  exer- 
cised any  general  agency  in  resisting  the  ag^Tession  of  the 
Yorkers.  At  length,  however,  the  tranquillity  of  the  intruders 
became  accidentally  endangered.  Ira  Allen,  the  Green  Moun- 
tain Metternich  of  after  times,  and  one  of  the  cabinet  coun- 
cil of  those  we  are  describing,  coming  through  this  section, 
on  his  return  to  his  residence  in  Bennington  from  an  excur- 
sion to  the  Winooski  river,  sought  lodgings  on  a  stormy  De- 
cember night  at  the  quarters  of  Mcintosh  and  his  men — a 
call  which  came  near  costing  the  former  his  life  at  the  outset: 
for,  while  he  was  unsuspectingly  knocking  for  admission, 
the  wary  Scotchman,  who  had  been  accustomed  to  consider  all 
his  foes,  who  rb'd  not  give  the  watchword,  noiselessly  opened 
the  door  wide  enough  to  protrude  one  arm,  and  made  several 
desperate  lunges  at  his  body,  liit  or  miss,  with  a  naked  sabre. 


THE   GREEN    MOUNTAIN    BOYS.  63 

Providentially,  however,  the  weapon,  missing  the  body,  only 
wounded  the  great  coat  of  the  traveler,  who,  at  last  succeed- 
ing in  making  the  other  believe  that  he  wanted  nothing  more 
than  a  shelter  for  the  night,  was  now  admitted,  and  enter- 
tained till  next  morning.  This  singular  reception,  as  well  as 
the  odd  and  warlike  appearance  of  everything  connected  with 
the  establishment,  awakened  the  curiosity  and  excited  the  sus- 
jncions  of  Allen,  who,  from  the  information  he  obtained  by 
pumping  the  incautious  Donald,  and  making  inquiries  of  the 
settlers  before  leaving  the  vicinity,  returned  home  in  posses- 
sion of  the  full  history  of  the  case.  And  the  consequence  was, 
that  before  many  months,  a  small  band  of  Green  Mountain 
Boys  came  on  from  the  south,  and  finding  no  one  about  the 
premises,  were  proceeding  to  clear  the  house  and  yard  of  all 
the}^  contained;  when  the  occupants,  who  had  been  at  work  in 
the  woods,  returned,  and  after  holding  a  council  of  v/ar  a 
short  distance  from  the  house,  made  such  a  furious  charge 
with  fixed  bayonets  on  the  new  comers,  that  they,  little  dream- 
ing of  so  warlike  an  onset,  were  fairly  routed  from  the  works, 
and  w^ere  compelled  to  decamp  amidst  the  victorious  shouts 
of  the  elated  Highlanders.  Chagrined  and  vexed  on  the  result 
of  this  attempt,  the  Green  Mountain  Boys,  early  the  next 
spring,  set  on  foot  another  expedition  for  dispersing  these  mil- 
itary tenants  of  the  usurping  Colonel.  And  for  this,  among 
other  objects,  Y/arrington  and  his  companions  were  now  on 
their  v/ay  to  the  spot. 

It  was  not  until  an  advanced  hour  in  the  afternoon  of  the 
day,  which  commen<3ed  by  the  adventures  related  in  the  last 
chapter,  that  our  band  arrived  at  the  outskirts  of  the  sin- 
gularly guarded  possession  just  described.  Their  force, 
swelled  by  the  numbers  who  had  joined  them  on  the  last  part 
of  their  route,  now  amounted  to  about  a  dozen  men.  They 
halted  in  the  woods,  adjoining  the  clearing,  for  the  purpose  of 
consultation,  with  a  view  to  fix  on  the  best  mode  of  attacking 
the  place,  which  they  were  not  without  hope  of  carrying  by 
surprise.  They  had  scarcely  commenced  discussing  these 
points,  however,  before  their  attention  was  arrested  by  two 
quickly  successive  reports  of  fire-arms,  proceeding  from  a 
thicket,  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  Creek. 

"What  will  you  bate  I  don't  know  the  bark  of  that  dog, 
Captain?"  exelaim.ed  Jones,  tipping  one  of  his  comical  winks 
to  his  superior. 
6 


64  THE    GREEN    MOUNTAIN    BOYS. 

"Aha!  who  do  you  suspect^  Jones?"  asked  Warrington  with 
a  look  of  iMerest. 

''^Why,  I  shouldn't  like  to  make  hodily  oath  of  it,  besure/' 
replied  the  other,  "but  unless  my  ear  lies  like  the  mischief, 
one  of  those  popping  noises  over  there  was  the  voice  of  an 
old  acquaintance." 

"To  the  point,  man,  if  you  possibly  can!"  rather  impatient- 
ly spoke  the  leader;  "what  acquaintance  do  you  mean?" 

"The  one  that  I  was  introduced  to,  up  on  the  lake  there, 
last  night,  asking  your  pardon.  Captain,"  replied  Pete,  low- 
ering his  tone  a  little  under  the  slightly  rebuking  manner  of 
his  commander. 

"You  are  in  the  right,  Mr.  Jones,"  said  the  other,  kindly, 
though  a  flash  of  anger  passed  over  his  face  at  the  discovery 
that  now  burst  on  his  mind;  "I  see  it  all,  at  last.  Those  were 
the  reports  of  a  pair  of  pistols,  and  in  the  hands,  too,  of 
that  traitorous  Sherwood,  v/lio  has  been  hovering  round  us 
on  our  march,  and  now  fires  his  pistols  as  a  preconcerted  sig- 
nal, to  give  notice  of  our  approach.  It  is  well  for  the  fellow 
that  he  was  wise  enough  to  put  the  Creek  between  us  and  him- 
self, before  taking  this  last  step." 

"That  comes  of  suffering  the  scoundrel  to  go  unhanged  last 
night,"  grumbled  Brov/n.  "If  I  had  been  the  Captain,  I 
would  have  strung  him  up  to  the  limb  of  a  tree  like  a  sheep- 
killing  dog,  and  left  him  kicking  in  the  air." 

"It  is  not  always,"  said  Warrington,  "nor  often,  I  think, 
that  we  find  cause  to  repent  of  the  mercies  we  have  shown; 
but  this  fellow — let  him  beware!"  he  added,  knitting  his  brow, 
"let  him  beware  how  he  is  taken  again!" 

All  hope  of  taking  the  place  by  surprise  being  now  relin- 
quished by  our  band,  it  was  soon  settled,  as  the  most  probable 
way  of  accomplishing  their  object  without  bloodshed,  which 
they  would  gladly  avoid,  that  a  feint  should  be  made  in  the 
open  field,  with  a  view  of  drawing  out  the  enemy  from  their 
works,  while  the  part  of  their  force,  not  thus  to  be  engaged, 
should  go  round  in  the  woods,  and,  approaching  in  the  rear, 
endeavor  to  get  possession  of  the  house  and  enclosure.  In 
pursuance  of  this  plan,  Warrington,  taking  Selden  and  two  of 
the  men  with  him,  started  off  for  the  purpose  of  carrying  the 
last  part  of  the  arrangement  into  execution,  leaving  the  rest 
of  the  force  under  the  command  of  Jones,  whose  genius,  it  was 
thought,  was  calculated  to  conduct  the  other  part  of  the  en- 


THE    GREEN   MOUNTAIN    BOYS.  65 

terprise  now  entrusted  to  liis  cliarge,  with  orders  to  advance 
through  the  open  grounds  towards  the  house,  and  adopt  such 
measures  on  the  way  as  circumstances  might  suggest  for  bring- 
ing about  the  desired  result. 

After  waiting  a  sufficient  time  to  allow  the  other  party  to 
gain  a  post  in  the  woods  in  the  rear  of  the  works,  Pete,  the 
new  commandant,  put  his  men  in  motion,  and  emerging  from 
the  bushes,  they  commenced,  in  a  wide-spread  platoon,  their 
ostentatious  march  through  the  field,  in  order  to  attract  the 
attention  of  the  enemy,  supposed  to  be  concealed  in  their 
enclosures  at  the  house.  It  so  happened  that,  directly  in  the 
course  of  the  advancing  party,  there  lay  a  series  of  large  log- 
heaps,  which,  either  by  accident  or  design,  had  been  placed, 
in  clearing  the  land,  very  nearly  in  a  straight  line,  at  inter- 
vals of  about  a  dozen  rods,  beginning  near  the  house  and  ex- 
tending almost  to  the  woods.  AYhen  the  party  had  arrived 
within  a  few  rods  of  the  first  log-heap  their  attention  was  ar- 
rested by  the  sound  of  a  human  voice,  issuing  from  behind  it, 
and  in  an  eager,  suppressed  tone,  giving  off  some  brief  orders, 
resembling  those  of  militar}^  command. 

"Already?  wp  then,  an'  gie  til  the  louns!"  exclaimed  the 
voice  of  the  unseen  leader,  in  broad  Scotch,  as  a  platoon  of 
armed  men  suddenly''  rose  from  behind  the  logs,  and,  raising 
their  guns  breast  high,  discharged  them  full  in  the  faces  of 
the  Green  Mountain  Eo^^s. 

"Noo,  right  aboot  face!  and  rin  as  if  the  deevil  Vv^as  after 
ye,  as  he  is,  and  mair  too,"  resumed  the  military  Donald,  for 
it  was  no  other  than  he  and  his  men,  who  had  been  thus  lying, 
in  concealment  behind  the  log-heap,  patiently  awaiting  the 
approach  of  their  unsuspecting  assailants. 

The  balls,  just  clearing  the  heads  of  our  band,  whistled 
through  the  air,  and  struck  with  a  crash  among  the  dry  limbs 
of  the  forest  behind  them.  As  soon  as  they  had  recovered 
from  the  surprise  into  which  they  had  been  thrown  by  the 
suddenness  of  this  unexpected  attack,  they  all  sprang  forward 
in  the  screening  smoke  of  the  enemy's  fire,  and  gained  the 
cover  of  the  log-heap,  just  relinquished  by  the  latter  for  the 
next  one  in  the  line  of  their  defenses. 

"Well,  this  is  what  I  should  call  rather  a  curious  how-d'3'e- 
do,  boys,"  coolly  said  Jones,  when  they  had  gained  their  shel- 
ter; "who  would  have  guessed  the  scamps  were  packed  away 
behind  this  old  log-heap?     But  one  thing  beats  my  philoso- 

5 


66  THE    GREEN    MOUNTAIN    BOYS. 

pliy — if  the  bloody  dogs  really  wanted  to  give  us  the  lead 
(and  they  shot  dreadful  careless  if  they  didn't),  why  in  natur 
didn't  they  take  aim?" 

"They  are  all  regular  sarvice  men/''  replied  a  settler  from 
the  vicinity,  "and  breast-high  is  the  rule  of  firing  in  the  army/' 

"Then  we  may  thank  the  rule  for  our  lives,  and  not  the 
pesky  fools  who  used  it,"  replied  the  former.  'Tt  would  not 
be  a  great  deal  more  than  right  to  send  our  rifle  bullets 
through  the  whole  tote  of  'em.  But  I  should  some  rather 
not  kill  the  sarpents,  if  we  can  get  along  without;  and  I  guess 
as  how  we  can,  seeing  they  were  kind  enough  to  sound  their 
rattles  before  trying  to  bite,  as  that  queer  old  codger  did,  in 
giving  off  word  before  they  let  drive  at  us.  And  if  they  will 
go  on  as  they  have  begun,  we'll  just  be  making  our  manners 
vrhen  they  fire,  so  that  the  balls  may  pass  over  us,  and  then  fol- 
low 'em  up  as  before — ^but  hark!  the  old  chap  is  at  it  again! 
o'oinii  the  motions  as  re^'ular  as  the  ni2:ht-mare:  there!  he 
has  got  to  'cock  fire-lockl'     jSTow,  dovrn  with  you,  boys!" 

Jones  and  his  men  had  scarcely  thrown  themselves  on  to 
their  knees  behind  their  log-heap  breast-work,  before  another 
volley  of  balls,  discharged  with  the  same  military  precision, 
whistled  over  them;  and  again  the  old  dry  hemlocks  that 
skirted  the  woods  appeared  to  be  the  only  sufferers.  Again 
retreating  to  their  next  post,  these  kilted  defenders  of  the  place 
were  followed  up  as  at  first  by  their  crafty  asstiilants,  who  were 
now  becoming  highly  delighted  with  the  fun  of  so  unique  a 
warfare.  And  in  this  manner  the  fight,  if  fight  it  be  called, 
continued  through  the  whole  field — one  party  blazing  away  at 
random  from  ever}^  log-heap  they  reached,  and  then  scudding 
on  for  the  next,  quite  satisfied  with  this  vray  of  doing  their 
duty  of  defending  these  supposed  possessions  of  the  king, 
since  they  were  conducting  their  defense,  as  they  believed, 
according  to  military  rule:  while  the  other  party,  occasionally 
discharging  their  pieces  into  the  air,  to  keep  up  the  appearance 
of  a  hostile  pursuit,  and  sometimes  raising  their  hats  on  their 
ramrods,  just  high  enough  above  the  logs,  behind  which  thev 
were  ensconced,  to  become  visible  to  their  foes  when  they  fired, 
that  they  might  be  thus  encouraged  to  continue  the  sport,  were 
no  less  content  with  this  fashion  of  fighting,  as  it  answered  all 
the  objects  in  view,  without  putting  them  to  the  necessity 
of  killing  others,  and,  what  was  quite  as  agreeable,  without 
jTinTiing  mj  risk  of  being  killed  themselyee, 


T-HE    GREEN    MOUNTAIN    BOYS.  67 

But  leaving  these  belligerents  for  the  present,  we  will  now 
follow  those  who  departed  to  execute  the  other  part  of  this 
novel  enterprise. 

Keeping  within  the  border  of  the  woods,  Warrington  and 
his  attendants  soon  made  the  circuit  round  the  clearing,  and 
arrived  at  the  bank  of  the  Creek,  in  the  rear  of  the  buildings, 
before  the-  attack  was  made  on  the  other  detachment.  They 
had  scarcely  gained  this  position,  however,  before  they  were 
aroused  br  the  rattling  of  McIntosh^s  salutatory  volley  on 
their  companions,  at  the  other  extremity  of  the  opening. 
And,  though  the  rise  of  land  which  intervened  between  them 
and  the  scene  of  action  prevented  them  from  ascertaining  by 
sight  the  exact  situation  of  affairs,  yet  readily  concluding 
that  the  eneni}',  in  full  force,  had  taken  the  open  field,  as 
had  been  anticipated,  they  made  for  the  house  with  all  possi- 
ble speed,  to  get  possession  of  the  works  before  the  occupants 
could  find  time  to  return.  On  reaching  the  enclosure  round 
the  house,  Warrington,  leaving  his  men  in  the  rear,  went 
round  to  the  front  side,  and  after  a  moment  spent  in  recon- 
noitering,  from  behind  a  wood-pile,  the  parties  in  the  field, 
crept  up  and  made  an  attempt  to  open  the  gate.  But  to  his 
disappointment,  he  soon  discovered  that  it  was  securely 
barred  on  the  inside;  while  the  noise  of  some  slight  move- 
ment "ftithin  apprised  him  that  the  place  had  not  been  left 
wholly  unguarded.  On  making  these  discoveries,  he  immedi- 
ately retreated  to  the  rear,  v/ithout  being  seen  by  the  enemy. 
There,  standing  beside  the  wall  of  the  enclosure  and  eagerly 
gazing  through  a  small  crevice  between  the  timbers,  he  found 
Selclen,  who,  now  turning  with  an  expressive  look,  silently 
beckoned  him  to  approach.  Obeying  the  sign,  Warrington 
carefully  stepped  up  to  the  spot  and  put  his  eye  to  the  aper- 
ture which  the  other,  now  yielding  the  place,  pointed  out  with 
his  finger;  when  all  that  part  of  the  arena  within,  which  was 
in  front  of  the  house,  was  opened  to  his  view.  And  the  ob- 
ject that  there  met  his  eye  struck  him  with  scarce  less  sur- 
prise than  what  had  just  been  manifested  b}^  his  more  ro- 
mantic companion,  j^ear  the  barricaded  entrance  into  the 
yard,  instead  of  a  bearded  warrior,  stood  a  young  and  neatly 
dressed  female,  of  striking  beauty,  holding  a  musket,  and  ap- 
parently enacting  the  part  of  a  sentry  to  fire  an  alarm  gun, 
or  open  the  gate  on  the  signal  of  her  friends.  She  had  evi- 
dently heard  the  movements  of  those  vrithout,  and  was  now 


68  THE    GREEN    MOUNTAIN    BOYS. 

standing,  like  a  startled  fawn,  her  bosom  heaving  with  sup- 
l^ressed  alarm,  her  lips  slightly  drawn  apart,  and  her  head 
turned  in  the  attitude  of  intense  listening — all  combining 
to  give  an  air  of  charming  and  picturesque  v/ildness  to  her 
whole  appearance.  A  svrarthy-faced  girl  was  timidly  peep- 
ing from  the  nearly  shut  door  of  the  house,  to  which,  on 
hearing  the  noise,  she  had  apparently  retreated.  From  the 
dress  and  appearance  of  the  latter,  Warrington  w^as  but  at 
little  loss  in  tracing  between  these  two  females  the  relation 
of  mistress  and  maid.  And  now,  wdth  a  rapid  survey  of  the 
situation  of  the  whole  interior,  as  far  as  could  be  seen,  he 
hastily  quitted  his  stand  at  the  crevice  and  turned  to  Selden. 

"Isn't  she  a  vision  of  a  creature  ?''  eagerly  whispered  the 
latter,  his  fine  dark  eyes  sparkling  with  animation;  "what, 
in  the  name  of  feminine  wonders,  will  you  show  us  next,  War- 
rington?   But  who  and  v/hat  can  she  be?" 

"I  am  scarcely  wiser  that  yourself,  in  that  respect." 

"If  the  other  was  a  Juno,  this,  I  suppose,  must  be  some 
warrior  sylph  of  the  Green  Mountains." 

"iSTot  of  the  Green  Mountains,  I  suspect,"  rejoined  War- 
rington, "but  be  she  sylph  or  satan  in  heavenly  guise,  we 
must  pay  her  a  visit,  and  have  possession  of  the  works  vrithin 
ten  minutes — the  enemy  are  on  the  retreat  for  the  gate,  and 
there  is  no  time  to  lose — advance,  boys,  and  lend  me  your 
shoulders  for  a  stepping  stone  to  scale  this  wall." 

The  walls  of  the  enclosure  were  about  ten  feet  high,  ex- 
elusive  of  the  pickets  which  surmounted  them,  and  which 
were  formed  of  stakes  three  or  four  feet  long,  sharply  point- 
ed at  the  top,  and  set  into  large  augur  holes  bored  in  the  upper 
layer  of  timber. 

Taking  his  men  to  a  part  of  the  vrall  in  the  rear  of  the 
house,  which  would  screen  them,  in  their  attempt,  from  the 
view  of  the  inmates  in  front,  and  thus  afford  them  a  better 
chance  to  get  over  unmolested,  and  without  causing  an  alarm 
to  be  given  too  soon,  the  leader  mounted  the  shoulders  of  one 
of  his  men,  leaped  on  to  the  top  of  the  timbers,  and  soon  luck- 
ily, and  without  noise,  succeeded  in  wrenching  out  pickets 
enough  to  aive  him  a  ready  ingress.  And  taking  up  his  rifle 
from  the  hands  of  those  below,  and  ordering  two  of  them  to 
follow,  and  the  other,  who  v/ould  have  no  mean-  of  getting 
up,  to  act  in  concert  with  Jones,  he  now  swung  himself  down 
upon  the  ground.    In  another  moment,  Selden  and  the  man 


■•% 


THE    GREEN    MOUNTAIN    BOYS.  69 

he  had  selected  having  been  equally  successful,  they  all  three 
stood  undiscovered  on  the  ground,  in  the  narrow  space  be- 
tween the  wall  and  the  back  side  of  the  house. 

"Well,  Selden,"  said  Warrington,  with  a  humorous  look; 
"in  what  manner  shall  we  proceed  witli  this  formidable  garri- 
son— by  storm  or  parley  ?^^ 

"The  latter,  certainl}',  unless  the  storm  is  to  be  a  storm  of 
kisses,"  replied  the  other,  in  the  sam.e  spirit;  "but  seriously, 
lest  the  appearance  of  all  of  us  at  once  occasion  unnecessary 
alarm,  I  j^ropose  that  one  of  us  go  forward  alone,  for  this 
purpose." 

"Tours  shall  be  the  chance,  then,  of  displaying  your  brav- 
ery, gallantry,  or  diplomacy,  as  the  case  may  require,  in  treat- 
ing  with  the  fair  commander." 

"Thank'ee,  Captain." 

"But  have  a  caution,  sir — remember  that  other  things  some- 
times inflict  wounds  besides  leaden  bullets!" 

"0,  borrow  no  trouble  on  my  account,  on  either  score,"  gay- 
ly  responded  Selden,  as  he  disappeared  round  the  corner  of 
the  house,  on  his  delicate  mission. 

The  merry  boast  of  the  last  speaker,  however,  had,  but  for 
his  good  fortune,  been  a  vain  one:  For  the  next  moment  after 
he  passed  out  of  the  sight  of  his  friends,  the  stunning  report 
of  a  musket  saluted  their  ears,  while  a  bullet  whistled  by  them 
and  buried  itself  in  the  wall  of  the  enclosure,  a  few  feet  from 
where  the}^  stood.  Instantly  springing  forward  toward  the 
scene  of  action,  they  found  Selden  standing  in  mute  surprise, 
but  unhurt,  a  few  yards  in  front  of  the  house,  and  as  many 
rods  from  the  mad  girl,  who,  in  the  suddenness  of  the  alarm 
and  trepidation  that  seized  her,  as  she  accidentally  turned 
round  and  unexpectedly  beheld  an  enemy  within  the  enclosure 
and  approaching  her,  had  just  committed  the  half-involun- 
tary, half-frenzied  act  of  discharging  at  him  a  well-loaded 
musket,  v\diose  fatal  contents  he  had  but  narrowly  escaped. 
For  a  moment  there  was  a  dead  pause,  during  which  neither  of 
the  parties  stirred  from  their  respective  positions,  being  near- 
ly invisible  to  each  other  in  the  smoke  which  was  rising  in 
eddying  whirls  between  them..  Soon,  however,  the  light  and 
airy  form  of  the  warrior  damsel  became  visible  to  her  aston- 
ished besiegers.  There,  pale,  agitated  and  almost  frantic  with 
conflicting  emotions,  she  still  stood,  as  if  chained  to  the  spot, 
holding  with  convulsive  grasp  the  yet  smoking  musket,  and 


70  THE    GREEN    MOUNTAIN    BOYS. 

appare-ntly  scarcely  less  frightened  at  what  she  had  done  than 
for  her  own  personal  safet}^ 

After  gazing  an  instant  with  increasing  consternation  and 
alarm,  as  she  beheld  the  now  treble  number  of  the  enemy,  she 
suddenly  threw  down  her  gun,  and  made  a  desperate  push  to 
unbar  the  gate. 

'^Nay,  nay!  lady,"  exclaimed  Warrington,  leaping  forward 
to  her  side,  and  placing  his  hands  firmly  upon  the  bars;  *^'this 
we  cannot  suffer  now,  though  we  intend  you  no  harm,'^  he 
continued  in  a  gentler  tone:  "but  you  had  better  retire — 
this  is  no  place  for  one  of  your  sex.  Mr.  Selden,  will  you  con- 
duct her  into  the  house  P'^ 

"Touch  me  not!"  half  shrieked  the  baffled  and  maddened 
girl,  shrinking  from  tlie  touch  of  Selden,  who  now  approached, 
and  offered  to  lead  her  to  the  house;  "'touch  me  not,  villain 
— monster!" 

"Be  calm — calm  your  fears,  dear  lady!"  said  Selden,  in  a 
soothing  and  res]^)eetful  tone,  "will  3^ou  hear  me?  Will  you 
look  me  in  the  face?  There!  do  I  appear  like  a  villain?  Novv' 
hear  me:  although  we  may  try  to  restore  these  possessions 
to  their  former,  and,  as  v\'e  believe,  rightful  owners,  3"et,  in 
doing  this,  v»^e  v/ould  not  willingly  injure  a  single  man  of  the 
defenders — much  less  a  female.  Be  prevailed  on,  then,  to 
retire,  and  I  pledge  myself,  on  the  honor  of  a  gentleman,  that 
no  hair  of  your  head  shall  be  injured." 

During  this  address,  the  kind  and  tender  manner  of  which 
seemed  to  strike  unexpectedly  on  her  ears,  she  turned,  and 
looking  full  upon  the  manly  and  handsome  face  of  Selclen,  a 
change  passed  over  her  agitated  countenance.  Her  over- 
tasked nerves  gave  way,  and  her  assumed  nature  melting  awa}^ 
into  its  original  softness,  like  a  storm  of  March  dissolving 
into  the  tears  of  April,  she  burst  into  a  fit  of  hysteric  weep- 
ing, and  now  suffered  herself  to  be  conducted  unresistingly 
into  the  house. 

By  this  time  Donald  and  his  men,  who,  on  hearing  the  re- 
port of  the  musket  just  fired,  as  they  were  making  a  stand  be- 
hind the  last  log-heap  of  their  line  of  defense,  hastily  dis- 
charged a  parting  round  at  the  enemy,  and  fled  for  the  works, 
had  reached  the  enclosure;  and  the  former  was  now  vocif- 
erating the  watchword,  and  rattling  away  at  the  gate  for  ad- 
m.ittanee.  Meanwhile,  Jones,  with  his  detachment,  being  ap- 
prised that  his  friends  were  in  possession  of  the  works  by  a 


THE    GREEN    MOUNTAIN    BOYS.  71 

handkerchief  which  the  latter  had,  as  a  preconcerted  signal, 
hung  on  a  corner  picket,  rushed  on  after  tlie  retreating 
Scotchmen  on  their  way  to  the  gate,  intending  to  follow  them 
so  closely  that  they  could  have  no  time  to  reload  their  guns 
before  they  should  be  compelled  to  surrender. 

Looking  around  and  seeing  his  foes  close  upon  him,  Mc- 
intosh redoubled  his  clam.or  to  get  in. 

"0,  why  dinna  ye  open  the  gaet?^^  exclaimed  the  impatient 
and  distressed  Highlander,  still  ignorant  that  any  others  were 
wdthin  than  those  he  left  there;  '^'thae  feckfuF  deevils  are 
hard  at  our  heels.  Och!  oigh!  Jess}^  Jessy  Reed!  is  it  my 
ain  Colonel's  dochter  that  wad  be  doylt  at  sic  a  time?  An^ 
Zilpah,  is  your  mistress  dead,  or  ye  a'  fear't  an'  fasht  the- 
githar,  that  ye  nae  ken  the  coming  o'  us?" 

"Your  ladies  are  all  safe  in  the  house,  my  honest  friend," 
cried  out  Warrington  in  reply,  ''but  your  quarters  are  now 
in  possession  of  other  hands.  You  had  better  surrender,  sir, 
as  it  will  be  of  little  use  to  contend  against  those  who  are 
now  too  strong  for  yon,  both  v/ithin  and  without." 

The  astonishment  and  dismay  of  the  simple-minded  Scotch- 
man at  the  discover}^  that  liis  foes  had  obtained  a  lodgment 
within  his  stronghold,  was  unbounded;  for,  having  perceived 
nothing  wrong  about  his  works  at  the  time  his  attention  was 
arrested  by  the  report  of  the  musket  within  them,  and  soon 
after  seeing"  the  man  left  outside  by  Warrington  running  out 
into  the  field,  he  supposed  the  gun  was  fired  by  the  bold  and 
wayward  girl  who  had  volunteered  for  the  service,  only  to 
apprise  him  that  some  one  was  round  the  outside  of  the  works. 
And  he  and  his  men,  having  given  a  merry  hurra!  for  the 
braw  lassie  who  frightened  away  the  skulking  tramper,  had 
come  on  and  reached  the  gate  in  the  confident  expectation  that 
in  another  moment  they  should,  be  safely  ensconced  within 
their  works,  and  beyond  the  reach  of  all  pursuers. 

"Gude  guide  us!"  he  ejaculated,  looking  hurriedly  around 
him,  while  his  countenance  exhibited  the  very  picture  of  per- 
plexity and  distress;  "Gude  guide  us!  gor't  by  the  rake-hells 
wi'in  and  wi'out!    0  what  wad  I  do!   what  wad  I  do!" 

"1^11  jest  tell  5'^ou  what  to  do,  you  queer  old  divil!"  sung 
out  Jones,  catching  the  last  part  of  these  exclamations,  a- 
he  brought  his  men  to  a  halt  vvdthin  two  rods  of  the  Scotch- 
men, who  now,  mechanically  facing  about,  and  presenting 
their  fixed  bayonets  to  their  opponents,  stood  glumly  await- 


72  THE    GREEN    MOUNTAIN    BOYS. 

ing  the  commands  of  their  leader.  "1  will  tell  you  what  to 
do/'  he  repeated^  "you  must  knuckle  to,  old  fellow.  What's 
the  particular  use  in  your  standing  out  against  these  six  load- 
ed rifles,  to  say  nothing  of  the  Captain  and  his  folks  inside, 
if  they  should  take  a  notion  to  wake  you  up  a  little?  so  I 
take  it  the  cunningest  thing  you  can  do  jest  now  is,  for  you 
all  to  throw  down  your  guns  and  surrender." 

"Hoot  awa'  mon!"  exclaimed  Mcintosh,  aroused  by  this 
fresh  summons  to  surrender;  "an'  I  rede  ye'll  find  wese  fight 
and  defend  til  the  last  drap  o'  our  hluide!  Attention  there!" 
he  continued,  hastily  turning  to  his  men,  "prime  an'  load!" 

A¥arrington  now  sternly  repeated  his  demand  for  an  im- 
mediate surrender;  but  the  obstinate  Hic^hlander,  knowins: 
no  way  of  obeying  the  military  instruction  of  his  Colonel,  "to 
fight  and  defend,"  but  to  fight  on  at  whatever  odds,  or  what- 
ever the  consequences  to  him  and  his  men,  deigned  no  answer 
to  this  repetition  of  the  summons  than  by  urging  his  men  to 
despatch  in  loading  their  |)ieces. 

"What  is  to  be  done.  Captain?"  coolly  said  Jones,  calling 
to  his  superior,  and  at  the  same  time  giving  a  nod  to  his  men, 
at  which  they  all  promptly  cocked  their  rifles  and  brought 
them  to  their  shoulders;  "speak  tolerable  quick,  if  you've  any 
orders,  for  they  are  about  loaded,  and  we  some  rather  give 
than  take  under  all  the  circumstances." 

"Neither!"  shouted  Warrington,  "do  neither — ^knock  up 
their  guns!  disarm  them!  grapple  with  them,  and  if  too 
many  for  you,  v/e'll  soon  be  among  you." 

A  sudden  furious  rush  was  now  made  by  the  Green  Moun- 
tain Boys  on  their  astonished  antagonists,  who,  not  dreaming 
of  this  mode  of  attack,  and  being  busily  intent  on  loading 
their  guns,  were  taken  by  complete  surprise,  and  to  a  great 
disadvantage  to  themselves.  And  before  they  had  recovered 
from  their  astonishment  sufficiently  to  put  themselves  in  a 
posture  of  defense,  most  of  their  guns  were  wrenched  from 
their  hands,  their  bodies  seized  round  the  waist,  and  some  of 
them  thrown  to  the  ground;  while  grappling  man  with  man, 
all  Avere  instantly  involved  belter  skelter,  in  the  tremendous 
scuffle  that  now  ensued.  And  although  the  Green  Mountain 
Boys  were  now  in  the  exercise  of  their  favorite  athletics,  and 
notwithstanding  their  great  strength  and  suppleness  of  limb, 
they  soon  found  that  the  entire  subjection  of  these  brawny 
and  resolute  Highlanders  was  no  very  easy  task.     Though 


THE    GREEN    MOUNTAIN    BOYS.  73 

thrown  to  the  ground,  the}^  had  to  be  held  there;  though 
knocked  down,  they  again  rose  to  the  fight,  and  though  beat- 
en, they  yielded  not.  And  the  victory  had,  perhaps,  been 
even  doubtful,  had  not  Warrington  now  thrown  open  the 
gate,  and  come,  with  a  fresh  force  to  the  rescue.  Then,  in- 
deed it  was  not  till  they  saw  their  leader  l3''ing  bound  and 
helpless  on  the  ground  that  the  pugnacious  Scotchmen 
could  be  brought  to  say  that  they  yielded  themselves  pris- 
oners. 

"I  have  na  3delded  yet,  ye  hogshoutherin  rap  scallions!" 
roared  Donald,  scornfully,  as  he  lay  on  the  ground  with 
scarcely  a  member  of  his  bod}^  except  his  tongue,  at  liberty; 
"I  hae  na  yielded,  an'  as  muckle  victory  as  ye  think  to  mak 
it,  ye  sal  never  say  that  Donald  Mcintosh  ca'd  himself  pris- 
oner wi'out  first  settling  the  conditions  o'  the  surrender." 

"What  conditions  would  you  have,  brave  Scot?"  asked  War- 
rington, with  great  show^  of  respect,  as  soon  as  he  could  be 
heard  amidst  the  shouts  of  laughter  that  followed  this  ludi- 
crous declaration  of  the  vanquished  leader. 

"What  conditions?  Why  to  be  allowed  to  march  out  wi  a' 
the  honors  o'  war,  an'  a  safe  passport  for  thae  women  an'  a' 
the  gear,  an'  propert}^,"  replied  Mcintosh,  somewhat  soothed 
b}''  the  respectful  manner  of  the  other. 

"And  will  you  quietly  yield  up  the  place  and  depart,  if  we 
will  allow  you  these  conditions?"  rejoined  Warrington,  evi- 
dently disi)osed  to  humor  the  fallen  warrior  in  his  laughable 
demand. 

"We  wael  bide  thae  terms  of  surrender,"  replied  the  other, 
"an'  ye  hae  the  word  o'  Donald  Mcintosh  till  the  bargain." 

"We  will  let  the  man  have  his  way  for  the  bravery  he  has 
shown,"  said  Warrington,  turning  to  his  men.  "Take  away 
their  ammunition,  but  restore  them  their  guns,  and  unbind 
their  leader.  .  ISTow  Captain  Mcintosh,  arise — parade  your 
men,  and  conduct  the  surrender  in  such  manner  as  suits  your 
pleasure." 

Deeply  impressed  with  a  sense  of  what  he  deemed  the  honor 
of  his  profession  required  in  surrendering  so  important  a 
military  post  of  the  king,  as  he  considered  this,  Mcintosh 
arose,  formed  his  men,  marched  into  the  enclosure,  halted, 
faced  about,  sent  a  corporal  to  bring  out  the  ladies  and  place 
them  in  the  rear,  marched  out  again,  grounded  arms,  and, 
with  an  air  of  great  formality  and  consequence,  pronounced 


74  THE    GREEN    MOUNTAIN    BOYS. 

liimself  and  followers  prisoners  of  war,  to  depart  on  parole, 
to  serve  no  more  on  this  coast  during  the  war. 

Warrington,  from  his  knowledge  of  the  national  character 
of  his  prisoners,  entertaining  no  doubts  of  their  fidelity  in 
strictly  observing  all  the  stipulations  of  their  leader,  now 
cordially  invited  them  to  remain  at  the  post  through  tho 
night.  And  the  invitation  being  as  cordially  accepted,  both 
parties,  within  an  hour,  were  commingling  in  the  greate^^t 
amity  and  good  feeling,  the  Green  Mountain  Boys  secretly 
elated  with  their  success  in  reducing  this  stronghold  of  the 
Yorkers,  and  their  late  opponents  resting  satisfied  with  the 
gallant  efforts  they  had  made  in  its  defense. 

The  next  day  the  vanquished,  availing  themselves  of  the 
permission  granted  them  by  the  victors,  conveyed  all  the  mov- 
able property  of  their  master  on  board  several  large  batteaux, 
v.diich  had  been  kept  there  for  the  purpose  of  exporting  lum- 
ber or  other  products  of  the  farm,  and  set  sail  dov/n  the  Creek 
for  St.  Johns,  or  some  one  of  Colonel  Eeed^s  possessions  on 
the  York  side  of  the  lake,  near  its  northern  extremity. 

Thus  terminated  this  unique  and  curious  contest,  which 
proved  to  be  the  last  one  of  any  magnitude  that  occurred  be- 
tween the  N'ew  Hamj)shire  grantees  and  the  Yorkers,  for  the 
possession  of  the  soil  within  the  disputed  territory.  The 
place  being  thus  left  in  the  hands  of  the  Green  Mountain 
Boys,  they  immediately  reinstated  the  owners  and  former  oc- 
cupants, and  soon  after,  strengthening  and  enlarging  the 
defenses  into  a  more  regular  fortress,  they  posted  a  small, 
permanent  force  there  to  prevent  so  important  a  position 
from  falling  again  into  the  hands  of  the  Yorkers,  or  any  new 
set  of  minions  which  the  late  military  aggressor  might  see 
fit  to  send  on  for  a  second  forcible  seizure,  ^o  further  at- 
temrpt,  however,  was  made  to  wrest  the  place  from  their 
liands;  nor  did  any  of  the  late  offenders  ever  make  their 
appearance  in  the  place,  except  the  brave  and  honest,  though 
strangely  mistaken  Mcintosh,  who,  indeed,  after  a  while  re- 
turned, but  with  views  not  a  little  altered.  For  becoming  by 
some  means  undeceived  as  to  the  nature  of  his  late  trust,  and 
being  excessively  mortified  at  the  development,  which  robbed 
him,  in  his  own  estimation,  of  nearly  all  the  glory  he  had 
gained  in  defending  it,  he  seemed  to  have  foresworn  the  mili- 
tary, for  a  more  quiet  profession.  And  purchasing  a  farm 
in  the  neighborhood,  he  settled  down  upon  it,  and,  in  the 


THE    GREEN    MOUNTAIN    BOYS.  75 

peaceable  pursuits  of  agriculture^  spent  the  remainder  of  an 
unusually  long  life^  no  less  respected  for  scrupulous  honesty, 
than  distinguished  for  the  whimsical  absurdities  that  occasion- 
ally marked  his  conduct."' 

But  there  is  one  of  the  conquered  band  whom  we  have  no 
notion  of  disposing  of  in  so  summary  a  manner — we  mean 
the  heroine  of  the  party — the  spirited,  wild,  wayward,  and 
beautiful  Jessy  Eeed,  who  was,  indeed,  no  other  than  the 
daughter  of  the  usurping  Colonel.  The  singularity  of  the 
position  which  our  band  found  her  occupying  at  this  place, 
and  the  attending  circumstances,  we  will  give  her  an  oppor- 
tunity of  hereafter  explaining,  and  content  ourselves  for  the 
present  with  a  few  v^^ords  respecting  her  destination,  and  the 
manner  of  her  departure  from  the  scene  where  she  was  intro- 
duced to  the  reader.  Instead  of  going  v/ith  Mcintosh  and 
his  men  to  the  north,  she  had  expressed  a  wish  to  proceed  to 
the  residence  of  a  family  with  whom  her  father  was  intimate, 
living  near  the  south  end  of  the  lake.  But  the  large  boats 
being  all  required  to  transport  the  effects,  and  the  hands 
needed  to  man  them,  an  open  skiff,  and  one  man  to  row  it, 
vv^ere  the  only  accommodations  that  could  well  be  afforded 
her.  Still  she  persisted  in  her  determination.  But  should 
she  be  permitted  to  embark  with  no  more  attendants?  The 
air  of  extreme  novelty  attending  this  singular  girl,  together 
with  her  i)ersonal  attractions,  had  from  the  first  made  a 
strong  impression  on  the  mind  of  Selden.  He  began  with 
pla3dng  the  soother — succeeded,  and  became  her  attendant, 
the  evening  after  the  affray,  in  a  twilight  walk  along  the 
banks  of  the  Otter,  during  which  he  was  as  much  surprised 
at  the  exhibition  of  intelligence  and  wit,  into  which  he  had 
artfully  drawn  her,  as  charmed  and  interested  with  her  beauty, 
and  a  certain  piquancy  and  dash  of  romance  which  nature 
and  a  semi-military  education  had  thrown  into  her  charac- 
ter. But  how  far  this  interest  was  reciprocated,  he  had  no 
means  of  judging.  And  should  he  now  offer  to  become  her 
attendant  on  her  proposed  voyage  through  the  lake,  would 
the  offer  be  received?  Would  she  suffer  to  attend  her  one  of 
those  who  had  wrested  away  her  father's  possessions;  one 
from  whom  she  yesterday  recoiled  as  from  the  touch  of  a 

♦  Mcintosh  died  in  the  town  of  Panton,  Vt.,  near  the  place  gt 
jijie  exploits  Jiere  4escribed,  |n  tjae  year  1813,  I  thi^Jj. 


76  THE    GREEN    MOUNTAIN    BOYS. 

viper,  branding  liim  with  the  epithets  of  villain  and  mon- 
ster? Sudden  metamorphoses  are  no  miracles  in  this  changing 
world,  thought  Selden,  and  a  failure  in  this  case  shall  not 
happen  from  the  want  of  any  attempt.  He  delicately  made 
the  proposal.    She  hesitated,  blushed  a  little,  and  accepted. 

"Was  ever  woman  in  such  humor  woo'd?" 


CHAPTER    Vn. 


'And  I  methinks,  till  I  am  old, 
A  fairer  maid  shall  ne'er  behold — 
The  sloping  lawn,  the  cottage  small. 
The  outspread  lake,  the  waterfall, 
And  thou  the  spirit  of  them  all!" 


A  few  miles  from  the  eastern  side  of  Lake  Champlain,  and 
nearly  opposite  to  Crown  Point,  where  now  molder  the  ruins 
of  one  of  Tthe  oldest  fortresses  in  ]N"orth  America,  a  bald,  jag- 
ged, and  desolate  looking  peak,  known  by  the  ungracious  ap- 
pellation of  Snake  Mountain,  stands  frowning  over  the  sur- 
rounding levels  in  solitary  and  repulsive  grandeur.  This  de- 
tached and  loft}^  mountain,  being  the  highest  and  indeed  the 
only  eminence  of  any  magnitude,  in  all  that  extensive  and 
beautiful  tract  of  country,  lying  between  the  lake  and  Otter 
Creek  for  the  last  thirty  miles  of  its  course,  served  among 
the  settlers,  before  roads  were  much  opened  in  this  part  of 
fhe  wilderness,  as  a  guide,  or  land-mark  for  all  those  who 
had  occasion  to  travel  the  woodlands  in  this  vicinity.  And 
Warrington,  after  safely  establishing  his  friends  in  their 
possessions  at  the  Lower  Falls,  and  despatching  a  small  band 
of  his  forces  in  pursuit  of  the  York  Surveyor,  repaired,  with 
the  remainder  of  his  men,  to  the  western  brow  of  this  moun- 
tain, as  a  rendezvous  to  which  his  whole  party  were  to  assem- 
ble when  the  surveyor  was  secured,  proposing  to  employ  the 
interim  in  making  observations  preparatory  to  some  con- 
templated operations  in  the  neighborhood  of  the  place.  He 
was,  as  the  reader  has  already  been  apprised,  the  owner,  under 
a  New  Hampshire  Grant,  of  a  considerable  body  of  wild  land, 


THE    GREEN    MOUNTAIN    BOYS.  77 

lying  along  the  shore  of  the  lake,  upon  a  part  of  which,  he 
had  been  informed,  some  one  had  entered  under  color  of  a 
York  title.  And  as  the  tract  of  land  in  question  was  situated 
between  this  mountain  and  the  lake,  it  was  now  his  intention 
to  ascertain  whether  the  information  he  had  received  was 
correct,  and,  if  found  to  be  so,  to  take  measures  for  ejecting 
the  intruder,  whose  name  even  was  unknown  to  him.  With 
this  object  in  view,  our  leader,  leaving  his  men  to  prepare  a 
shelter  for  their  temporary  quarters,  took  his  rifle,  and  set  off 
alone  through  the  woods  in  the  direction  in  which  the  im- 
provements of  the  supposed  intruder  were  said  to  be  located. 
After  traveling  some  miles  in  this  direction,  he  arrived  at 
the  top  of  the  last  offset,  in  the  lakeward  slope  of  the  coun- 
try, before  reaching  the  shore,  which  now  appeared  a  short 
distance  in  front,  while  an  opening  of  considerable  extent 
became  visible  on  the  left.  Approaching  the  skirt  of  this 
opening,  and  carefully  noticing  the  natural  land  marks  around 
it,  he  soon  became  convinced  that  the  whole  clearing,  with  all 
the  improvements,  was  embraced  v/ithin  the  boundaries  de- 
scribed in  his  own  patent.  Having  satisfied  himself  in  this 
respect,  he  now  turned  his  attention  more  particularly  to  the 
improvements  themselves,  and  felt  a  degree  of  surprise  on 
witnessing  their  comparative  extent  and  superiority  over  the 
rest  of  those  of  this  recently  settled  country.  The  house  was 
uncommonly  neat  and  comfortable  in  its  appearance,  and 
very  pleasantly  situated  on  the  green  and  graduated  margin 
of  a  beautiful  little  brook,  that  meandered,  with  many  a  glit- 
tering cascade,  throligh  a  smooth  meadow,  and  entered  the 
woods  a  few  rods  below  the  spot  v/here  he  stood.  The  out- 
house, barn,  garden,  and  every  thing  around,  were  in  good 
keeping — all  going  to  furnish  unequivocal  indication,  that 
enterprise,  taste,  and  some  degree  of  wealth,  had  here  been 
employed.  Much  did  Warrington  wonder  who  could  be  the 
enterprising  occupant,  who  had  accomplished  all  this  in  so 
short  a  time,  and  still  more,  that  it  could  have  been  done 
without  more  particular  intelligence  reaching  him  respecting 
it.  But  whoever  he  might  be,  it  was  not  probable  that  he 
would  part  with  such  fair  possessions  without  a  struggle;  and 
as  a  garrison  was  near,  the  troops  of  which  were  understood 
to  be  in  the  York  interest,  and  stood  ready,  doubtless,  to  pro- 
tect the  intruder,  Warrington  at  once  saw  that  a  considerable 
force  might  be  necessary  to  dispossess  him,  and  even  should 


■'■ff 

78  THE    GREEN    MOUNTAIN    BOYS. 

the  attempt  be  successfully  made,  the  same  force  might  be 
required  to  be  permanently  stationed  there  to  defend  it.  After 
revolving  this  subject  in  his  mind  awhile,  he  concluded  to 
defer  it  for  farther  consideration,  and  perhaps  for  a  consulta- 
tion with  his  companions;  and  now  dismissing  the  matter 
from  his  mind,  he  again  gave  his  attention  to  the  inviting 
prospect  around  him.  The  day  was  bright  and  tranquil;  the 
balmy  breath  of  spring,  wafted  over  flov^ering  field  and  bud- 
ding forest,  was  dallying  with  the  whispering  pines  above, 
thus  gratifying  one  sense  with  delicious  odors,  and  soothing 
another  with  the  soft  and  dying  murmurs  of  Eolian  melody. 
The  long  tract  of  the  far  stretching  waters  of  the  lake,  sleep- 
ing in  the  ra^^s  of  the  descending  sun,  shone  Vvdth  dazzling 
brightness,  which,  at  intervals,  v\'as  beautifully  relieved  by 
the  dark  green  islands  which  studded  the  glittering  expanse. 
The  sloping  uplands  beyond,  which  reanimating  nature  was 
just  beginning  to  clothe  in  the  green  vesture  of  summer,  rose 
up  from  the  long,  line  of  nodding  pines  that  lined  the  west- 
ern margin  of  the  lake,  in  beautiful  perspective,  each  indi- 
vidual feature  of  the  landscape  becoming  more  and  more  in- 
distinct in  the  mellowing  distance,  till  the  view  was  termi- 
nated by  the  last  long  ridge  of  climacteric  mountains,  whose 
tall  ice-clad  peaks,  fiercely  flashing  in  the  sun,  were  marked 
in  bold  outlines  against  the  cloudless  blue  of  the  heavens.  A 
solitary  flag  was  waving  over  the  massy  and  frowning  walls 
of  the  opposite  fortress,  on  which  the  Mene  Tekel  had  already 
been  traced  by  the  unseen  hand  that  writes  the  destinies  of 
nations:  for  the  emblem  lion,  that  there  now  proudly  floated 
on  the  breeze,  and  giorpng  in  his  strength  and  prowess, 
seemed  bidding  defiance  to  the  world,  was  doomed,  before 
many  revolving  suns  had  finished  their  daily  course,  to  be 
plucked  down  by  those,  who  were  alike  fearless  in  their  re- 
sistance of  oppression,  whether  coming  from  a  sister  colony 
or  a  parent  country. 

While  Warrington,  who  was  an  enthusiastic  admirer  of  na- 
ture, with  whom  he  particularly  loved  to  commune  in  the 
solitudes  of  the  forest,  where  her  empire  was  undisturbed  by 
the  works  of  art,  was  giving  his  soul  to  the  magnificent  pros- 
pect before  him,  he  was  recalled  from  his  reverie  by  the  light 
plashing  of  oars  in  the  waters  below.  And  turning  his  eyes 
in  the  direction  of  the  sound,  he  indistinctly  discerned  through 
the  trees  a  small  skiff  approaching  the  shore  of    the    lake. 


THE    GREEN    MOUNTAIN    BOYS,  79 

rowed  by  a  single  person,  who,  on  reaching  his  landing,  drew 
np  his  boat,  and,  after  taking  out  of  it  a  gun,  ascended  the 
bank.  As  he  emerged  from  the  thick  underwood  that  skirted 
the  shore  into  the  more  open  forest,  and  advanced  into  the 
higher  grounds,  Warrington  soon  discovered,  from  his  uni- 
form, that  lie  was  a  soldier,  or  some  subaltern,  from  the  fort, 
who  had  come  over,  he  concluded,  in  search  of  the  partridge, 
or  other  light  game,  with  vdiich  the  woods  here  very  plenti- 
fully abounded.  The  man  still  continued  leisurely  to  ad- 
vance into  the  forest  till  he  had  reached  the  runlet  before 
mentioned;  when  something  on  his  right,  in  the  direction  of 
the  clearing,  seemed  suddenly  to  attract  his  notice.  And, 
after  pausing  awhile  in  apparent  doubt  and  indecision,  he 
began  somewhat  cautiously,  and  with  an  air  of  hesitation,  to 
move  forward  towards  the  object  which  had  arrested  his  at- 
tention, and  which  he  still  appeared  to  keep  anxiously  in 
view.  Our  leader,  who  in  the  meanwhile  kept  his  stand  un- 
observed, supposing  the  other  had  sprung  some  game  at 
Avhich  he  was  endeavoring  to  obtain  a  favorable  shot,  con- 
tinued, with  a  sort  of  listless  curiosity,  to  watch  his  motions, 
till  he  had  passed  out  of  sight  behind  an  intervening  cops- 
wood  of  low  firs,  that  thickly  extended  along  the  slope,  some 
half  dozen  rods  from  the  clearing.  In  a  few  moments,  and  as 
the  former  yet  stood  patiently  listening  for  the  report  of  the 
expected  shot,  the  voice  of  a  female,  coming  from  the  quar- 
ter to  which  his  attention  was  directed,  and  uttering  a  slight 
cry,  as  of  mingled  sj-irprise  and  alarm,  reached  his  ear.  The 
voice  of  the  man  was  next  heard  in  the  earnest,  though  flur- 
ried tones  of  seeming  entreaty,  which  appeared  to  be  followed 
by  a  hasty  movement  towards  the  object  addressed, — and  in 
a  moment  more,  a  piercing  shriek  rose  wildly  from  the  spot. 
Grasping  his  rifle,  and  plunging  into  the  thicket,  Warring- 
ton bounded  down  the  hill  with  the  speed  of  a  wild  deer  to- 
wards the  scene;  and  in  another  instant  the  parties  were  re- 
vealed to  his  sight — a  young  lady  of  the  most  interesting  ex- 
terior, with  her  hair  loosened  and  falling  in  disorder  over  her 
neck  and  shoulders,  and  her  flushed  countenance  eloquent 
with  indignation  and  alarm,  as  with  half-averted  face  she 
struggled  to  free  herself  from  the  fellow,  who,  by  a  grasp  of 
one  hand  on  her  garment,  was  endeavoring  to  detain  her  in 
her  attempted  flight.  One  glance  at  the  victim  of  this  rude 
assault  sufficed  to  tell  the  unexpecting  and  astonished  War- 

6 


80  THE    GREEN    MOUNTAIN    BOYS. 

rington  that  the  fair  original  of  that  picture^  which  had  been 
so  long  engraven  on  his  heart,  was  before  him,  requiring  his 
instant  aid  and  protection. 

^'^Back  rnfEan,  back!"  exclaimed  he,  as  with  leveled  piece 
he  rushed  upon  the  soldier,  who  stood  mute  and  confounded 
before  so  unlooked-for  an  apparition;  "back!  I  say — unhand 
the  lady,  or  you  die  on  the  spot!" 

Quailing  beneath  the  stern  and  withering  glances  of  the 
other,  the  abashed  aggressor  immediately  relinquished  his 
hold  on  the  girl,  and  muttering  a  denial  of  any  intentional 
wrong  and  a  few  curses  at  the  interference  of  Warrington, 
shrunk  away  and  disappeared  in  the  woods. 

"I  am  much  indebted  to  you,  sir,"  said  the  still  agitated 
maiden,  scarce  audibly,  her  eyes  timidly  bent  on  the  ground, 
as  her  protector  now  gently  advanced  to  her  side. 

"Miss  Hendee" — said  Warrington,  hesitatingly,  after  an 
awkward  silence  of  a  moment;  "do  I  not  behold  my  former 
acquaintance.  Miss  Alma  Hendee?" 

"Mr.  Howard?"  exclaimed  the  girl,  as  with  deep  surprise 
she  now  for  the  first  time  lifted  her  eyes  to  scan  the  features 
of  her  before  unrecognized  deliverer. 

A  slight  flush  passed  over  the  face  of  the  other,  on  hearing 
himself  addressed  by  that  name,  and  he  opened  his  lips  as 
if  to  correct  his  fair  friend,  but  a  second  thought  seemed  to 
repress  the  expression  of  the  first,  and,  quickly  recovering 
from  his  hesitation,  he  observed,  ''1  little  thought  to  have 
met  you  here.  Miss  Hendee.  I  could  almost  forgive  the 
wretch  who  caused  you  this  fright,  since  he  has  been  the 
means  of  my  meeting  again  with  one  whom  I  have  never  ceased 
to  remember  mth  pleasure.  But  you  have  companions  near, 
surely?" 

"]^o  nearer  than  the  house,  from  which  I  wandered  down 
the  run  just  now,  and,  tempted  by  these  flowrets  peeping  up 
along  the  banks,  extended  my  ramble,  perhaps  imprudently, 
thus  far  into  the  woods." 

"And  is  this  fair  situation,  then,  your  home — ^the  resi- 
dence of  your  father?" 

"Certainly  it  is,"  replied  Miss  Hendee,  resuming  her  nat- 
ural cheerfulness;  "why,  surely,  Mr.  Howard,  you  did  not 
suppose  I  had  turned  wood-nymph  to  wander  in  the  forests, 
and  house  in  the  caves — did  you?" 

"I  hardly  knew  what  to  think,  for  it  never  occurred  to  me 


THE   GREEN   MOUNTAIN   BOYS.  81 

that  the  father  of  Alma  Hendee  could  be  in  ^^ossession  of 
this  beautiful  opening." 

^^And  why  not,  my  dear  sir?  Why,  we  have  been  here 
these  three  years.  And  if  we  have  not  made  the  wilderness 
blossom  like  the  rose,  we  have  at  least  got  so  far  as  to  make 
the  rose  blossom  in  the  wilderness — come,  you  shall  attend 
me  home,  and  see  what  a  pretty  flower-garden  I  have  in  prog- 
ress." 

^To  the  opening,  at  least,"  responded  Warrington,  obeying 
the  motions  of  his  fair  companion. 

^^And  now,  sir,"  resumed  the  latter  gayly,  as  they  proceeded 
on  their  way,  "having  answered  your  questions,  let  me  be  the 
catechist  awhile,  will  you?  And  in  the  first  place,  from  what 
cloud  so  opportunely  dropped  my  gallant  deliverer,  just  at  the 
particular  moment  he  was  wanted?" 

^'I,  too,  am  an  inhabitant  of  the  Green  Mountain  settle- 
ment, though  not  of  this  vicinity,"  answered  the  other;  "and 
you  see,"  he  continued,  smilingly  pointing  to  his  rifle,  "that 
m}^  old  propensities  still  hang  about  me;  and  for  the  pres- 
ent you  must  take  this  as  an  explanation  of  my  wandering 
into  this  section  of  the  country.  I  had  just  arrived  at  the 
border  of  the  woods  up  yonder,  and  was  viewing  your  delight- 
ful situation,  when  your  cries  brought  me  to  your  side." 

"I  am  half  ashamed  of  the  noise  I  made,"  rejoined  the 
lady,  "and  I  presume  it  was  unnecessary.  He  has  occasion- 
ally been  at  our  house;  and  how  far  he  considered  himself 
warranted  on  such  an  acquaintance  to  obtrude  himself  as  he 
did,  I  know  not.  But  being  startled  by  the  fellow^s  unex- 
pected appearance,  and  uncertain,  from  his  hesitating  and 
equivocal  manner,  what  might  be  the  nature  of  the  proposals, 
which  he  said  he  wished  to  make,  and  which  at  last  he  seemed 
determined  I  should  stop  to  hear,  I  became  much  alarmed, 
I  will  confess;  though  I  should  feel  excessively  mortified  to 
have  any  stir  made  about  it.  I  hope  you  will  not  mention  the 
affair  to  my  father  when  we  get  home?" 

"Certainly  not,  if  it  is  your  wish — that  is,  I  would  not,  if  I 
were  to  see  him,"  replied  Warrington,  pausing,  as  they  now 
came  into  the  open  field. 

"But  surely,  sir,  you  will  go  to  the  house?  My  father  will 
be  very  much  pleased  to  renew  his  acquaintance  with  his  Doc- 
tor Hunter,  as  he  would  always  persist  in  calling  you." 

"Your  kind  invitation^  believe  me^  Miss  Hendee,  is  most 

6 


82  THE   GREEN   MOUNTAIN   BOYS. 

gratefully  received;  but  I  think  it  would  hardly  be  advisable 
for  me  at  this  time  to  accept  it." 

"And  why  not? — so  near,  and  not  visit  us?  I  know  my 
father  will  be  delighted  to  see  you,  and  have  you  spend  sev- 
eral days  with  us — particularly  so,  I  imagine,  at  the  present 
time,  when  he  is  not  without  apprehensions  of  an  attack  from 
the  Green  Mountain  Boys,  as  they  call  them.  Wh}^  did  you 
know  that  a  band  of  these  men  have,  for  several  days  past, 
been  ravaging  the  settlement  along  Otter  Creek,  headed  by 
that  terrible  fellow,  Captain  Warrington?" 

"I  heard,"  replied  the  other,  confused  and  stammering  at 
this  unexpected  question,  and  the  commentary  on  his  own 
character  which  he  perceived  it  involved  in  the  mind  of  his 
fair  companion,  "I  heard — ^that  is,  I  was  aware  that  the  per- 
son you  mention  had  come  into  this  part  of  the  country.  But 
your  father  need  be  under  no  apprehension  on  that  account;" 
he  continued,  regaining  his  composure,  "for  I  think  I  can 
very  safely  answer  for  Warrington,  that  neither  he,  nor  any 
of  his  followers  shall  ever  disturb  the  father  of  Alma  Hendee." 

"You  can!  you  can?  But  why  couple  my  name  so  very 
oddly  with  that  of  this  fearful  man? — I  do  not  fully  compre- 
hend— I  know  there  are  two  parties  in  this  settlement,  and  I 
suppose  he  and  his  company  pretend  to  be  acting  for  the  New 
Hampshire  party.  Perhaps  you  belong  to  this  party,  and 
know  him,  and  can  influence  him  in  our  behalf?  Oh!  if  you 
would! — But  come,  do  go  to  the  house  with  me,  and  assure 
my  father  of  this." 

"Wot  now — another  time — perhaps  to-morrow,  I  may  visit, 
you — that  is  if — "  and  Warrington  paused  and  hesitated,  as 
if  doubtful  whether  to  proceed,  while,  with  a  waiting  and 
wondering  expression,  the  girl  stood  earnestly  looking  him 
in  the  face.  "Miss  Hendee,"  he  at  length  resumed,  somewhat 
pensively,  "you  left  the  place,  which  afforded  me  the  pleas- 
ure of  your  acquaintance,  unexpectedly, — quite  so  to  me. 
On  my  return  a  day  or  two  after  our  last  interview,  to  my 
great  disappointment,  I  found  you  were  gone — ^whither,  I 
was  never  able  to  discover." 

"We  intended  you  no  disrespect,  however,  Mr.  Howard,  in 
leaving  thus  unceremonious^,"  replied  the  girl,  exchanging 
the  free  and  cordial,  for  a  more  guarded  and  distant  manner, 
as  if  she  instinctively  anticipated  what  was  to  follow.  "My 
lather,  who,  as  you  are  aware,  bad  then  heoome  able  to  resume 


THE    GREEN    MOUNTAIN    BOYS.  83 

his  journey,  gained  some  information  from  a  traveler,  who 
called  in  your  absence,  which  led  him  to  determine  on  leav- 
ing the  place  the  next  morning.  I  should  certainly  have  been 
happy  at  that  time  to  see  you  again  and  apprise  you  of  our 
departure.^^ 

'^At  that  time,^'  rejoined  the  other,  catching  the  emphasis, 
and  slowly,  and  with  a  tone  of  disappointment,  repeating  the 
expression,  "at  that  time," — and  have  Miss  Hendee's  feel- 
ings, then,  changed  since  I  last  saw  her?'' 

"I  then  esteemed  you,  Mr.  Howard,  much — very  much, 
indeed,"  she  evasively  replied,  looking  down,  while  her  fin- 
gers were  busy  in  tearing  a  flower  that  she  had  plucked  by 
the  way:  "I  thought  highly  of  you — very;  and  I  still  know 
not  why  I  should  not  regard  you  with  the  same  respect." 

"Respect,  my  dear  Miss  Hendee,  is  a  term  that  falls  coldly 
on  the  ears  of  those  who  are  looking,  or  at  least  hoping,  for 
a  warmer  expression.  You  were  sensible,  were  you  not,  that, 
at  the  time  to  which  w^e  have  been  alluding,  I  was  cherishing 
for  you  a  tenderer  sentiment?" 

"I  had  no  right  to  understand  so,"  tremulously  replied  the 
lovely  listener,  the  quick  heavings  of  whose  bosom  plainly 
told  the  tumult  that  had  been  awakened  within;  "you  cer- 
tainlv  made  no  professions  that  would  warrant  me  in  such 
belief." 

"Miss  Hendee,"  resumed  the  other,  after  a  pause,  "you 
were,  if  I  rightly  understood  your  character,  as  I  presume 
you  are  now,  a  frank  and  ingenuous  girl.  May  I  then  not 
hope,  that,  in  kindness  to  me,  you  will  give  a  frank  an- 
swer to  a  question  which  I  would  ask  you?" 

"H  a  proper  one." 

"If  then  a  profession,  which  I  intended  to  have  made  you, 
had  opportunity  been  allowed,  were  to  be  made  now,  are 
there  more  obstacles  now,  than  then,  to  prevent  it  being  favor- 
ably received?" 

She  made, no  rej^ly,  and  Warrington,  stealing  a  glance  at 
her  averted  face,  perceived  that  her  eyes  were  suffused  with 
tears. 

"There  is,  indeed,  then,  one  between  us,"  at  length  said 
the  other  sadl}?". 

"There  is,"  was  the  reply  in  a  tone  of  regret,  which  should 
have  satisfied  even  the  monopolizing  heart  of  a  lover.  But 
love  with  men,  oftener  than  otherwise  wholly  blind  to  pol- 


84  THE    GREEN   MOUNTAIN   BOYS. 

icy,  is  rarely  content  to  rest  satisfied  with  those  indire-ct  ex- 
pressions and  delicate  intimations,  which  are  a  surer  proof 
of  its  existence  in  the  female  heart  than  the  most  open  decla- 
rations, and,  absurdly  craving  more,  is  not  unfrequently  com- 
pelled to  put  up  with  less.  It  was  thus  with  our  lover  as  he 
rejoined — 

^^May  I  not  have  the  happiness  to  hear  those  lips  declare 
that  my  affection  has  been  in  some  measure  reciprocated?" 

Still  there  was  no  reply. 

^^Am  I  to  understand,"  resumed  Warrington,  "that  Miss 
Hendee  has  pledged  her  hand  irrevocably?  And  can  it  be 
that  she  has  pledged  herself  too  for  a  union  into  which  her 
heart  can  never  enter?" 

"What  have  I  said,  Mr.  Howard,"  replied  the  girl,  looking 
up  with  the  air  of  offended  pride,  "to  warrant  such  questions? 
With  some,  perhaps,  I  might  not  be  slow  to  resent  your  in- 
timation. And  as  it  is,"  she  continued  with  great  dignity, 
"you  will  hold  me-  excused,  I  trust,  for  declining  to  commune 
further  on  a  subject  which  should  now  be  as  uninteresting  to 
you,  as  it  is  embarrassing,  and  even  painful  to  me." 

"Sureh^,  surely!  dearest  lady,  you  cannot  believe  that  I 
would  intentionally  offend?"  said  the  disconcerted  lover.  "We 
will,  however,  dismiss  this  subject  for  the  present,  if  so  un- 
pleasant." 

"For  the  present,  and  forever!" 

"If  it  must  be  so — and  yet — " 

"N"o  more,  no  more — I  know  not  even  that  I  have  done 
right  in  listening  to  what  you  have  already  said,  or  remain- 
ing here  so  long.  You  will  now  receive  my  adieu,  and  excuse 
my  immediate  return." 

"One  moment  yet — ^you  will  not  deny  me  another  inter- 
view?" 

"At  my  father's  house,  and  in  my  father's  presence,  most 
certainly  not." 

"Even  on  these  hard  conditions,  I  will,  then,  soon  seek  it — 
cruel  one,  adieu." 

"Adieu!"  responded  the  beauteous  girl,  as,  tripping  light- 
ly away,  she  looked  back  with  a  smile  so  eloquently  sweet,  that 
it  erased  in  an  instant  the  effect  of  every  frown  she  had  given, 
and  every  negative  she  had  uttered,  from  the  mind  of  her  re- 
pulsed, but  not  despairing  lover. 

The  progress  we  have  now  made  in  our  story  makes  it  neces- 


THE    GREEN    MOUNTAIN    BOYS.  85 

sary  to  recur  to  some  incidents  of  an  earlier  clate^  connected 
with  several  of  onr  leading  personages^  and  having  a  bearing 
on  the  events  yet  to  follow: — 

Some  three  or  four  years  previous  to  the  events  just  re- 
lated, and  when  the  settlers  were  first  meditating  an  open  re- 
sistance to  the  authorities  of  New  York,  it  became  an  object 
with  the  former  to  ascertain  how  far  the  government  of  that 
23rovince  was  there  sustained  in  its  attempted  aggression  on 
the  Grants,  by  the  feelings  and  opinions  of  the  people  at 
large— whether,  indeed,  there  did  not  exist  among  that  peo- 
ple, especially  those  living  near  the  disputed  territory,  a  con- 
siderable degree  of  sympathy  for  the  settlers  in  their  unright- 
eous persecutions.  For  in  the  event  of  such  a  sympathy,  the 
latter  believed  that  the  meditated  resistance  might  be  ven- 
tured upon  with  safety,  or  with  safety,  at  least,  when  com- 
pared with  a  case  where  the  feelings  of  the  people  were  en- 
listed on  the  side  of  the  government.  It  was  therefore  de- 
termined that  an  emissary  should  be  sent  into  the  part  of  IsTew 
York  lying  contiguous  to  the  Grants,  who,  traveling  in  dis- 
guise, or  with  disguised  objects,  should  endeavor  to  ascertain 
the  true  sentiments  and  feelings  of  the  people  on  this  sub- 
ject: and  Warrington  Avas  the  person  selected  for  this  deli- 
cate, though  important  enterprise.  Accordingly  setting  out 
alone  with  his  riile,  and  traveling  on  foot  under  the  assumed 
name  of  Howard,  and  in  the  character  of  a  hunter  and  herbal- 
ist, he  traveled  all  that  section  of  the  country  into  which  he 
had  been  23articulai;iy  sent,  calling  at  almost  every  house  in 
his  course  and  mingling  with  all  companies  and  classes  in 
]3ursuing  the  objects  of  his  secret  mission.  And  it  was  while 
on  this  excursion,  that  he  accidentally  formed  the  interest- 
ing acquaintance,  of  which  the  reader  has  already  been  ap- 
prised. Haj^pening  on  one  of  the  main  roads  leading  from 
the  east  to  Alban}^,  he  was  overtaken  by  a  gentleman  and 
lady  in  a  carriage,  traveling  towards  the  last  mentioned  j)lace. 
They  had  passed  by  him  but  a  few  rods,  however,  before  the 
horse  suddenly  took  fright  and  overturned  the  carriage,  by 
which  the  man  was  seriousl}^  hurt,  though  the  lady  fortunate- 
ly escaped  with  little  injury.  Springing  forward  to  their  aid, 
Warrington,  after  securing  the  horse  with  no  little  difficulty 
and  danger,  turned  his  attention  to  the  travelers,  who  proved 
to  be  a  father  and  daughter  of  the  name  of  Hendee.  Assist- 
ing the  wounded  man  into  his  vehicle,  and  placing  his  daugh- 


86  THE    GREEN    MOUNTAIN    BOYS. 

ter  "by  Ms  side  to  support  liim^  lie  attended  tliem,  leading  the 
liorse  to  the  nearest  habitation^  which  was  a  poor  inn  not  far 
from  the  place  of  the  accident.  And  having  formerly  been 
placed  in  circnmstanees  in  which  he  had  gained  considerable 
practical  knowledge  of  medicine^,  he,  in  the  absence  of  a  reg- 
ular physician  in  that  thinly  settled  countr}^,  undertook  the 
cure  of  the  invalid  himself,  closely  attending  him  till  he  be- 
came convalescent,  and  repeating  his  visits,  at  short  intervals, 
during  the  two  or  three  weeks  that  elapsed  before  the  patient 
was  able  to  resume  his  journey.  And  it  was  during  these 
visits,  in  which  he  had  evidently  found  great  favor  in  the 
eyes  of  both  father  and  daughter,  by  the  kindness  and  deli- 
cacy of  his  attentions,  that  he  had  contracted  an  intimacy 
with  the  latter,  which  soon  passed  the  ordinary  boundaries 
of  friendship,  and  ripened  into  that  blissful  state  of  the  affec- 
tions, which  constitutes,  perhaps,  the  most  purely  happy 
period  in  the  course  of  love — when  the  feelings  of  parties  are 
tacitly  understood  and  appreciated  by  each  other,  before  an 
open  avowal  occurs  to  throw  with  its  business  like  aspect,  the 
first  shade  of  earth  over  this  paradise  of  the  heart.  It  was 
at  this  interesting  stage  of  the  intimacy  that  Warrington  re- 
turned one  day,  after  a  longer  absence  than  usual,  and  found, 
to  his  great  disappointment  and  regret,  that  Hendee  and  his 
daughter  had  departed  the  day  before,  without  leaving  any 
note  or  message,  as  he  then  could  learn,  explanatar}'-  of  their 
unannounced,  and,  to  him  unexpected  departure.  Believ- 
ing from  this,  that  he  might  have  been  perhaps,  deceived  in 
regard  to  the  nature  and  extent  of  the  interest,  which  he  had 
flattered  himself  he  had  created  in  the  bosom  of  Miss  Hendee, 
and  feeling  a  little  piqued  at  this  appearance  of  neglect  on 
the  part  of  both  father  and  daughter,  he  soon  ceased  his  un- 
availing enquiries  concerning  the  family.  And  he  had  never 
heard  anything  further  respecting  them,  or  received  the 
slightest  information  of  the  place  of  their  subsequent  resi- 
dence, except  the  vague  and  uncertain  information  which  he 
gatliered  in  his  adventure  at  the  subterraneous  abode  before 
described,  from  that  time  to  the  present  hour,  when  to  his 
utter  surprise,  he  found  them  located  on  his  own  land.  And 
now  having  no  suspicion  that  they  were  conscious  of  intruding 
on  the  rights  of  another,  and  last  of  all,  his  own,  in  taking 
up  this  place  under  a  York  patent,  and  still  cherishing  all  his 
former  sentiments  for  the  daughter,  whose  heart  he  believed 


THE    GREEN    MOUNTAIN    BOYS.  87 

he  still  retained  notwithstanding  the  claims  of  another  to 
her  hand,  he  resolved  to  relinquish  his  right  to  the  land,  and 
even  keep  his  ownership-,  if  possihle,  a  secret  from  the  family, 
while  he  should  prosecute  his  suit  with  the  girl,  at  least  till 
he  had  unraveled  the  mystery  that  still  seemed  to  hang  over 
her,  and  become  better  satisfied  of  the  hopelessness  of  his  case, 
devolving  tliis  subject  in  his  mind,  he  returned  to  his  en- 
campment, and  announced  to  his  wondering  companions,  that 
he  should  have  no  occasion  to  employ  them  in  the  affair  which, 
as  they  were  apprised,  he  had  been  to  investigate. 


CHAPTEE   VIII. 


"Let  us  be  conjunctive  in  our  revenge." 
"  'Tis  lucky!    I  can  work  my  purposes. 
While  seeming  but  to  do  the  state  a  service." 


Perhaps  there  is  no  kind  of  hatred,  that  finds  harbor  in  the 
human  breast,  more  deadly  and  inveterate  than  that  which 
is  entertained  by  the  perpetrators  of  base  actions  against  those 
who  have  detected  them  in  guilt.  Nor  does  the  degree  of 
inveteracy  with  which  this  fiendish  feeling  is  secretly  cher- 
ished by  the  former,  appear  to  be  very  often  lessened  by 
any  forbearance  which  may  be  exercised  by  the  latter  in  not 
exposing  their  baseness,  or  bringing  them  to  punishment. 
We  will  not  detain  the  reader,  however,  with  any  speculations 
of  our  own  on  this  dark  and  somewhat  singular  leaf  in  the 
history  of  the  human  j)assions,  but  leave  the  subject  to  be  il- 
lustrated by  those  incidents  of  our  story,  by  which  these  re- 
marks were  here  suggested. 

When  the  discomfited  soldier  retreated  from  the  presence 
of  Warrington  and  the  rescued  maiden,  he  concealed  himself 
in  a  thicket,  from  which  he  could  esjDy  the  movements  of  the 
couple  till  they  separated.  And  when  this  had  taken  place, 
he  proceeded  directly  to  his  boat,  and  entering  it,  pushed  for 
the  opposite  shore,  plying  his  oars  with  a  sort  of  nervous  and 
spiteful  energy,  as  if  impelled  by  the  commingling  feelings 
of  chagrin  and  revenge,  that  v,^ere  working  within  him  at  the 


88  THE    GREEN    MOUNTAIN    BOYS. 

thoughts  of  his  defeat,  and  the  consciousness  that  he  had  dis- 
graced himself  forever  in  the  eyes  of  the  girl,  as  well  as  ex- 
posed himself  to  the  contempt  and  abhorrence  of  her  deliv- 
erer. 

"Fool!  fool!"  he  angrily  muttered  to  himself,  as  he  urged 
his  skiff  through  the  waters,  which,  as  if  in  mockery  at  the 
dark  turmoil  of  his  breast,  were  now  sparkling  in  cheerful 
brightness  in  the  rays  of  the  setting  sun;  "'stupid  fool,  to 
think  a  timid  girl  would  listen  to  me  in  such  a  place!  and 
more  fool  still  to  manage  so  blunderingly  as  to  alarm  her, 
when,  if  I  had  begun  right,  I  might  have  told  her  all,  or  at 
least  found  out  whether  she  would  have  made  it  to  mxy  advan- 
tage to  do  it.  And  then  to  mend  the  matter,  I  must  try,  in 
my  eagerness,  to  stop  her!  which  brought  down  that  cursed 
interloper  upon  me,  as  if  the  old  boy  sent  him  just  at  that 
moment  to  make  an  affair  out  of  the  trifle!  I  wonder  what 
they  supposed  I  wanted  to  do? — that  is  plain,  however,  what 
they  thought;  but  they  are  mistaken:  Bill  Darrow  for  once 
is  accused  of  what  he  is  not  guilty!  ha!  ha!  ain't  that  a 
curiosity!  AVell,  the  plan,  like  every  woman  plan  I  ever  laid, 
is  all  blown  to  the  devil  now,  I  suppose;  though  I  can  yet 
bring  it  about  with  the  old  man,  if  I  choose.  But  that  scoun- 
drel, d — n  him!  whoever  he  may  be,  Fll  dog  him  to  the  death, 
but  Fll  pay  him  for  his  rascally  interference!" 

While  thus  reasoning  and  raving  by  turns,  in  the  way  of 
soothing  his  smarting  feelings,  he  had  nearly  reached  his 
destined  landing,  a  small  cove  about  a  furlong  north  of  the 
fort,  when  he  caught  a  glimpse  of  a  man  standing  among  the 
bushes  on  the  shore,  apparently  awaiting  the  approach  of  the 
boat. 

"Ah!  who  have  we  here?"  resumed  the  desperado,  as, 
shading  his  eyes  with  his  hand  from  the  blinding  rays  of  re- 
flected light  that  fell  in  his  face,  he  threw  a  scrutinizing 
glance  at  the  person  of  the  other;  "why!  can  it  be? — it  is — 
Jake  Sherwood  himself!  What  in  the  devil's  name  brought 
him  here  just  at  this  time?  Ah!  my  dear  fellow,  you  may  thank 
your  good  stars,  and  evil  ones,  that  you  are  not  by  this  time 
pretty  devilishly  well  dished!  But  can  he  have  mistrusted  my 
good  will?  No,  no! — the  secret  is  still  my  own,  and  for  the 
present  shall  remain  so,  as  my  best  stock  in  trade.  Yet  what 
ran  he  want  with  me?  Some  Beelzebub  errand  to  be  done, 
I'll  warrant  mel    Well,  he  shall  pay  roundly  for  doing  it,  be- 


THE   GREEN   MOUNTAIN   BOYS.  8^ 

sides  shelling  out  something  more  than  promises  on  the  old 
score,  or  I'll  yet  put  him  in  a  spot  he  will  little  relish,  I  am 
thinking/' 

^'Well,  Darrow/'  said  Sherwood,  as  the  former  now  reached 
the  shore,  and,  pulling  up  his  boat,  mounted  the  hank;  "sport- 
ing a  little  over  yonder  this  afternoon,  eh?  What  luck? 
Kone!  Well,  that  is  the  way  sometimes.  But  come,  take  a 
seat  on  this  old  log  here,  in  the  bushes.  I  should  like  a  little 
talk  with  you;  so  lay  aside  that  grim  scowl  of  yours,  and  be 
sociable  once,  if  you  can." 

"Sociable!  hum!  I  should  like  to  know  who  in  hell  could 
feel  sociable,  or  wear  a  decent  face,  while  his  conscience  is 
loaded  down  with  such  soul-damning  secrets  as  these  of 
YOurs." 

"My  secrets!    ha!   ha! — as  if  they  were  not  yours,  too!'' 

"And  they  may  be  somebody's  else,  too,  unless  you  mend 
your  manners,  and  show  yourself  a  little  more  liberal  than 
you  have  been  lately,  Jake  Sherwood.  But  what  brings  you 
here  now,  and  what  would  you  have  with  me  ?" 

"Oh,  nothing  very  special — nothing  of  any  great  conse- 
quence"— 

"N'othing  very  special,  hey?  When  did  Jake  Sherwood, 
or  his  father  before  him,  ever  call  on  Bill  Darrow  without  a 
special  object,  I  should  like  to  know?" 

"Well,  well,  supposing  I  have  an  errand,  what  then? — what 
is  there  so  out  of  the  way  in  that,  you  surly  one?" 

"Why,  nothing  out  of  the  waj^  but  exactly  in  the  way,  as 
I  said.  But  what  is  the  use  of  puttering  with  your  round 
about  moonshine? — out  with  it!" 

"Darrow,"  said  the  other,  after  glancing  about  him  as  if 
to  make  sure  that  there  was  no  one  within  hearing;  "there 
are  several  of  the  York  outlaws  prowling  about  Otter  Creek. 
AVe  came  near  seizing  them  a  few  days  ago  at  Lake  Dun- 
more,  though"  they  escaped  us,  and  that  was  not  all — but  no 
matter — they,  day  before  yesterday,  Avent  down  the  Creek  to 
the  Lower  Falls,  and  took,  and  laid  waste  Colonel  Eeed's 
plantation  there.  And  their  leader,  one  Warrington,  with 
part  of  his  gang,  has  since  moved  off  somewhere  in  this  direc- 
tion. ISTow  there  is  a  reward  of  about  two  hundred  crowns  to 
be  had  for  taking  this  fellow.  I  have  had  my  eye  on  him 
some  time,  and  now  I  have  some  particular. reasons  for  wish- 
ing him  secured." 


90  THE    GREEN    MOUNTAIN    BOYS. 

'^'Wliat  a  kind  of  a  looking  fellow  is  he?"  asked  Darrow, 
with  considerable  interest.    ^'Do  yon  know  Mm  by  sight?" 

"Yes — a  tall,  square  built,  and  rather  good  looking  fellow — 
that  is,  he  might  appear  so  to  one  who  did  not  know  him  for 
a  scoundrel." 

"The  same,  by  heavens!"  exclaimed  Darrow,  after  musing 
a  moment.  Yes,  he  must  be  the  very  fellow  I  saw  not  two 
hours  ago,  as  I  was  skirting  along  Captain  Hendee's  clear- 
ing over  yonder.  He  was  walking  with  a  woman  near  the 
woods." 

"How!    what  woman? — not  Alma  Hendee?" 

"Can't  say." 

"^0,  no,  it  must  have  been  the  maid — and  yet — ^but  con- 
found the  audacious  scoundrel,  how  came  he  there,  and  so 
soon  acquainted  with  either  maid  or  mistress,  unless  my  sus- 
picions are  right?" 

"All  that  you  can  answer  as  well  as  I — though  come  to 
think  more  about  -the  woman's  make  and  gear,  I'll  be  hanged 
if  I  don't  believe  that  it  was  the  old  man's  daughter." 

"Fire  and  furies!    it  must  be  so." 

"Wh3^,  what  are  you  so  wrathy  about?"  said  Darrow,  with 
a  malicious  smile.  "You  are  not  afraid  the  fellow  will  run 
away  with  your  girl,  are  you,  Jake?" 

"My  girl!  who  told  you  so?  ISTot  mine,  unless  I  please,  I 
woidd  have  you  to  know!  ISTo,  no,  sir,  no  fear  of  this  pol- 
troon in  that.  But  still  I  can't  exactly  comprehend  the  move- 
ment. If  he  was  reconnoitering  with  a  view  to  ousting  the 
old  man,  would  he  be  v^alking  out  so  familiarly  with  his 
daughter  ?  It  don't  look  like  it — no,  it  means  something  else, 
which  must  the  sooner  be  seen  to.  And  thanks  to  the  rascal's 
boldness,  he  has  put  his  fate  in  my  power  quicker  than  I  ex- 
pected." 

"How — in  what  way?" 

"Why,  don't  you  see.  Bill?"  said  Sherwood,  turning  with 
a  familiar  and  coaxing  air  to  the  minion,  "don't  you  see  how 
easily  he  can  be  entrapped,  if  he  remains  at  Hendee's  to-night, 
or  repeats  his  visit?" 

"Ay,  but  how  would  you  manage  the  business?" 

"You  are  a  sergeant — take  a  file  of  men,  go  over,  surround 
the  hou=e  and  take  him.     Your  superior  won't  object." 

"But  how  am  I  to  know^  when  he  is  to  be  found  there?" 

^T[  will  go  over  myself,  reconnoiter  as  soon  as  dark,  with- 


THE    GREEN    MOUNTAIN    BOYS.  91 

out  showing  myself  to  alarm  him,  and  if  I  find  the  game  be 
there,  I  will  make  a  torch  signal  at  the  landing.  You  must 
keep  watch,  and  as  soon  as  you  see  the  light,  come  over  with 
your  men.  If  he  is  not  there  to-night,  he  will  be  soon;  Alma 
Hendee  is  not  a  girl  to  be  once  seen  and  draw  no  second  visit. 
Yes,  by  the  powers  of  darkness,  I  have  him  at  last!  But  sup- 
posing he  does  not  come  into  this  trap,  he  certainly  is  prowl- 
ing somewhere  near;  and  you  can  prowl,  too.  Bill.  And — 
at  the  last  pinch — you  are  a  good  rifle  shot,  I  think,  Darrow  ?" 

"Ha!  ha!  out  at  last,  then!  I  thought  it  would  finally 
come  to  that.  Jake  Sherwood,  you  are  a  book  that  I  can  read 
by  looking  on  the  cover." 

"Then  you  know  what  I  would  have  you  do?" 

"Yes,  but  vv^here  would  be  the  reward  in  that  case?  The 
Yorkers  don't  pay  for  heads  that  have  been  bored,  do  they?" 

"The  governor's  proclamation  don't  say  delivered  alive, 
but  only  delivered.  But  whatever  question  there  might  be 
about  that  in  some  cases,  there  shall  be  no  failure  in  this.  I 
have  influence  enough  at  headquarters  to  see  that  your  bill 
is  footed  if  you  bring  this  about,  in  any  shape." 

"And  you  will  do  it?" 

"Upon  honor." 

"Upon  interest,  you  mean." 

"Upon  both,  if  you  please." 

"That  will  do,  and  for  this  d n'd  good  reason — if  the 

security  is  weak,  I  know  of  that  which  can  easily  be  made  to 
enforce  the  bargain,    Jake  Sherwood,  I  am  your  man." 

"JSTow  that  looks  like  a  cheerful  good  will,  without  your 
usual  drawback  of  grumbling.  Well,  we  understand  each 
other,  do  we?" 

"Hum!  a  d n'd  sight  too  well,  Jake!" 

"Why,  w^e  part  friends,  don't  we?" 

"Yes,  and  It  rests  with  you  whether  we  remain  so.  But  I 
must  be  back  to  the  fort.  And  as  it  is  getting  dusk,  you  go 
directly  over,  I  suppose?" 

"Soon — but  you  understand  that  we  are  to  try  to  cage  him 
at  Hendee's  first.    Eemember  to  look  out  for  the  signal!" 

"Ay,  ay." 

"Yes,  my  suspicions  were  right  about  him  and  the  girl," 
soliloquized  the  plotting  agent,  after  the  departure  of  his 
reckless  minion,  "But  never  mind,  I  have  put  the  blood- 
hound on  the  scent;  and  if  the  siniinal  don't  forget  his  own 


92  THE    GREEN   MOUNTAIN   BOYS. 

nature,  in  addition  to  putting  a  stop  to  this  business,  I  shall 
soon  have  the  pleasure  of  seeing  that  haughty  leader  of  these 
savage  rebels  atone  for  every  blov/  which  he  caused  to  be  in- 
flicted on  me  at  that  accursed  lake!  And  that  jeering  lieu- 
tenant and  all  the  rest,  reward  or  no  reward,  shall  have  their 
turn  next.  And  then  their  executioner,  if  I  can  contrive  to 
make  the  hated  scoundrel  such,  must  be  m^ade  in  some  shape 
to  follow  them.  Perhaps,  however,  he  may  be  disposed  of  in 
the  war  said  to  be  brewing.  At  all  events,  he  is  too  danger- 
ous a  fellow  to  my  interests  to  be  suffered  to  remain  here  long, 
to  say  nothing  of  the  insults  which  I  am  compelled  to  bear, 
and  seem  to  take  in  good  part,  from  his  devil's  tongue.  I 
wonder,  though,  what  made  him  undertake  this  dangerous 
business  so  readily? — the  reward,  I  suppose; — well,  let  him 
have  it,  revenge  is  dearer  to  me  than  money.  But  perhaps  I 
can  contrive  to  get  both — if  I  could  but  manage,  after  se- 
curing this  renegade  Captain  to  make  Darrow  and  some  of 
the  rest  mutual  executioners — ha!  that  would  be  glorious! 
But  of  that  hereafter,  now  for  the  first  object.'' 

So  saying,  and  partially  arousing  himself  from  his  reverie, 
he  proceeded  along  the  shore  a  few  rods  to  a  point  where  he 
had  left  his  skiff,  and,  entering  it,  began  to  pull  slowly  for  the 
residence,  on  the  opposite  shore,  already  described,  to  which 
we  will  next  take  the  reader,  for  the  purpose  of  introducing 
some  new  characters,  and  making  the  place  the  future  scene 
of  a  large  23ortion  of  the  incidents  to  follow. 


CHAPTEE    IX, 


"I  prythee,  daughter,  do  not  make  me  mad." 


It  was  on  the  second  evening  after  the  incidents  related  in 
the  two  preceding  chapters  occurred,  that  an  elderly  gentle- 
man sat  at  the  door  of  the  pleasantly  situated  cottage  before 
described,  quietly  indulging  in  the  habit-made  luxury  of 
puffing  the  Indian  v/eed,  as,  enjoying  the  bland  breezes  of 
tho  evening,  ho  cab-nly  looked  out  upon  the  broad  expanse  of 
the  lake,  and  the  diversified  objects  of  the  landscape  around. 


THE    GREEN    MOUNTAIN    BOYS.  93 

over  which  the  shades  of  night  were  now  rapidly  gathering. 
Now  his  eyelids  would  droop  and  his  head  sink,  slightly,  to- 
wards his  breast,  under  the  sedative  influence  of  the  nar- 
cotic fumes  he  was  imbibing,  aided  by  the  ceaseless  croak- 
ings  of  the  frogs,  whose  evening  choruses  rose  from  the 
marshy  shores  of  the  lake  in  drowsy  monotony  on  the  ear. 
And  now  he  would  partially  arouse,  and  his  eye  would  light 
up,  for  an  instant,  with  returning  consciousness,  as  his  ear 
caught  the  new  note  of  some  bird  of  passage  just  returned 
from  his  hibernal  flight  to  the  w^arm  south,  and  now  for  the 
first  time  heard,  marking  the  progress  of  the  season.  The 
man  might  have  been  sixty,  though  his  appearance  indicated 
a  greater  number  of  years;  for  his  head  w^as  nearly  white 
with  the  frosts  that  the  fatigues  and  privations  of  the  camp, 
in  which  the  vigor  of  his  manhood  had  been  spent,  had  prema- 
turely sprinkled  on  his  head.  And  yet,  his  erect  figure,  and 
keenly  flashing  eye,  as  his  attention  became  aroused  to  ob- 
jects around  him,  betokened  a  spirit  still  unbroken,  and  in- 
tellects still  unimpaired,  in  despite  of  a  shattered  constitu- 
tion, and  the  ravages  which  hardships  and  time  had  depicted 
on  his  thin  and  w^ar-worn  visage.  Though  at  the  same  time, 
the  rapid  play  of  the  muscles  of  his  face,  and  the  combined 
ezpression  of  every  feature  of  his  countenance,  evidently  de- 
noted that,  with  fine  sensibilities,  and  much  that  was  generous 
and  noble,  he  naturally  possessed  a  sanguine  temperament  and 
a  fiery  disposition,  which  his  growing  infirmities  had  ren- 
dered still  more  irascible.  And  such  indeed  was  the  case  with 
Captain  Hendee,  thS  person  w^hose  appearance  we  have  been 
endeavoring  to  describe.  His  life  had  been  one  which  had 
been  checkered  with  no  ordinary  vicissitudes.  He  had  been 
an  officer  in  the  colonial  army,  and  out  in  most  of  that  fearful 
struggle  with  the  French  and  Indians,  that,  with  little  inter- 
mission, spread  death  and  desolation  through  all  the  borders 
of  the  English"  colonies  in  America  from  1744  to  1760;  and 
he  had  sufiered  imprisonment,  sickness,  and  all  but  death,  in 
that  terrible  warfare.  He  had  also  known  the  extremes  of 
affluence  and  poverty  in  his  pecuniary  affairs,  while  great 
felicity,  and  uncommon  bereavements,  had  marked  his  do- 
mestic relations.  He  had  buried  two  wives,  each,  while  she 
was  spared  him,  the  charm  of  his  existence.  And,  to  add  still 
more  to  his  cup  of  sorrows,  a  darling  son,  who  had  been  en- 
trusted to  the  care  of  an  uncle  in  his  father's  absence,  soon 


94  THE    GREEN    MOUNTAIN    BOYS. 

unaccountably  disappeared,  having  "been  abducted  and  mur- 
dered, it  was  supposed,  by  some  lurking  band  of  Indians.  One 
daughter,  the  child  of  his  last  wife,  was  now  all  that  re- 
mained to  him  to  smooth  the  pillow  of  age,  and  prop  his  de- 
clining years.  And  well  did  that  beloved  and  truly  loved 
daughter  fulfill  the  filial  trust  thus  imposed.  Aware  of  her 
j)arent^s  infirmities,  as  well  of  temper  as  of  body,  she  became 
the  gentle  soother  of  the  one,  and  the  watchful  nurse  of  the 
other.  And  ever  manifesting  the  most  affectionate  solicitude 
for  his  welfare  and  always,  assiduously  attentive  to  his  slight- 
est wants  and  wishes,  while  readily  overlooking  the  harshness, 
which  in  his  fits  of  petulance,  he  occasionally  showed  her, 
and  which  she  generally  answered  only  with  a  tear,  she 
gained  over  him,  by  this,  and,  the  super-added  influence  of 
his  afiiection  for  her,  and  his  sense  of  dependence  on  her  for 
happiness,  a  control  for  his  good,  that  the  whole  world 
united  would  have  failed  in  attempting  to  obtain. 

A  discreet  and  demure  maiden  of  about  thirty,  an  old  serv- 
ant, who  lived  with  them  in  more  prosperous  days,  still  re- 
mained with  them,  and  with  one  more  person,  scarcely  less 
regarded,  completed  all  the  permanent  members  of  the  fam- 
ily. That  other  person  was  no  other  than  Neshobee,  the 
3^oung  Indian,  with  whom  the  reader  has  already  had  a  partial 
acquaintance,  without  having  been  before  apprised,  however, 
we  believe,  of  his  residence.  He  was  one  of  Captain  Hen- 
dee's  trophies  of  war,  having  been  captured  in  an  onset  on  an 
Indian  lodge,  to  which  a  band  of  murderers  had  been  traced, 
after  one  of  their  massacres  on  the  frontier  settlement.  The 
Indians  being  taken  wholly  by  surprise,  and  nearly  all  slain  by 
the  first  fire,  this  lad  was  found  burrowed  unhurt  in  a  pile  of 
dry  leaves  in  one  of  their  haunts,  and  secured  by  the  victors; 
when  the  Captain  declared,  with  a  sort  of  melancholy  jest, 
that  as  the  hell-hounds,  a  year  or  two  before,  had  deprived 
him  of  a  son  of  about  the  same  age,  he  would  for  once  follow 
their  custom  of  suppl}dng  the  place  of  the  slain  by  adopting 
one  captured  from  the  enemy.  And  accordingly  he  took  the 
boy,  then  six  or  eight  years  old,  back  with  him  to  his  post, 
and  finally  to  his  family,  with  whom  the  captive  had  ever 
since  resided. 

The  domicile  of  this  strikingly  contrasted  family  was  a 
common  cottage,  constructed  after  the  fashion  of  the  better 
sort  of  houses  in  the  settlement,  of  hewn  timber,  so  exactly 


THE    GREEN    MOUNTAIN    BOYS.  95 

squared  and  laid  together^  in  the  present  instance,  as  to  make 
smooth,  compact  walls,  neatly  whitewashed  without,  and 
tightly  ceiled  with  boards  within.  The  interior,  which  was 
divided  into  two  principal  rooms,  parlor  and  kitchen,  with  a 
range  of  bedrooms  and  other  small  apartments  abreast,  ex- 
hibited an  odd  mingling  of  the  relics  of  refined  life,  with  the 
crude  substitutes  for  furniture,  and  the  various  articles  usual- 
ly found  in  the  houses  of  a  border  settlement.  On  the  high 
mantel-piece  of  the  best  room  stood  the  wide  spreading  ant- 
lers of  some  noble  buck,  the  tips  of  the  various  branches  be- 
ing ornamented  with  curious  sea-shells,  the  egg-shells  of  rare 
birds,  and  other  devices  of  the  tasteful  young  mistress  of  the 
establishment.  Eich  mahogany  chairs  w^ere  cushioned  with 
the  feathered  skins  of  the  loon,  a  large  water-fowl  abound- 
ing in  our  northern  lakes,  and  remarkable  for  the  thickness 
and  tenacity  of  its  skin,  as  well  as  for  the  downy  softness  of 
its  feathers.  A  light  stand,  of  exquisite  workmanship,  was 
supplied  with  a  curiously  beaded  miniature  Indian  canoe 
for  a  tray,  containing  a  pair  of  small  clam-shells  for  snuffers. 
On  wooded  pegs  in  the  wall  were  suspended  the  remains  of  a 
once  superb  mirror,  the  broken  parts  of  which  were  artfully 
concealed  by  festoons  of  the  creeping  evergreen;  while  on 
one  side  a  small,  but  well  selected  assortment  of  books,  ar- 
ranged on  broad  shelves,  completed  the  list  of  all  the  promi- 
nent articles  by  which  the  room  was  furnished.  The  furniture 
of  the  kitchen  was  mostly  of  the  roughest  kind  and  the  whole 
room  abounded  with  evidences  of  the  woodman's  life,  the 
walls  and  ceiling  above  being  hung  with  implements  of  hunt- 
ing, furs,  pieces  of  drying  venison,  and  other  trophies  of  the 
chase,  taken  by  Neshobee,  the  young  Esau,  or  red  Mmrod, 
if  the  reader  please,  of  the  family. 

"Come,  father,'^  said  Miss  Hendee,  with  a  look  of  affection- 
ate solicitude,  as,  rolling  up  her  needle-work,  she  rose  from 
her  seat  by  his  side:  "had  you  not  better  take  a  seat  within; 
I  fear  you  are  exposing  yourself  too  much  to  the  night  air 
to  expect  quiet  from  your  rheumatic  shoulders  to-morrow." 

"Ko,  Alma,''  replied  the  old  gentleman,  knocking  the  ashes 
from  his  pipe,  "I  know  just  what  I  can  bear;  old  Fahrenheit 
himself  could  not  make  an  instrument  that  would  indicate  the 
state  of  the  air,  whether  ho*:  or  cold,  dry  or  humid,  more  ex- 
actly than  these  sensitive  fluids  in  my  old  shattered  frame. 
'No,  the  atmosphere  is  peculiarly  soft  and  warm  this  evening. 


96  THE    GREEN    MOUNTAIN    BOYS. 

I  think  old  Boreas  has  nearl}'  lost  his  claws  for  this  season.  I 
just  heard  a  whippoorwill^  or  muckawis,  as  the  Indians  call  it, 
which  they  say  never  appears  here  in  the  spring  till  winter 
has  got  so  far  towards  the  big  ice-pond  on  his  retnrn  to  the 
north,  that  he  wdll  no  more  come  hack/' 

"'I  knew  it  was  very  mild  to-night,  father,  but  I  thought, 
perhaps^  you  were  not  aware  how  late  you  were  remaining 
in  the  open  air,  since  you  appeared  so  deeply  engaged  in  cogi- 
tation.'' 

"True,  girl,  I  have  been  thinking  over  matters  a  little." 

"What  matters,  father,  may  I  know?" 

"Yes,"  replied  the  other,  now  rising  and  following  his 
daughter  into  the  room  we  first  described,  "yes.  Alma,  you 
shall  know,  for  you  are,  yourself,  one  of  the  parties  con- 
cerned." 

"I,  father?" 

"Yes,  you  are,  girl;  but  in  the  first  place  let  me  ask  you,  if 
you  did  not  think  your  cousin  Sherwood's  manner,  in  his 
visit  last  night,  rather  singular?" 

"I  might  have  thought  so,  perhaps — in  what  res]3ect  did 
you  imagine  his  manner  was  singular,  however?" 

"In  several — what  was  it  that  he  seemed  to  be  hiiiting 
about  so  mysteriously?  And  did  he  not  have  the  air  of  one 
who  is  secretly  suspicious  of  something!" 

"Does  my  father,"  replied  the  other,  evading  a  direct  an- 
swer, "does  my  father  think  that  anything  very  singular  in 
Mr.  Sherwood?" 

"Why — why" — said  the  Captain,  surprised  and  staggered 
at  the  question:  "Why,  yes,  I  had  hoped  so;  for  these  se- 
cretly suspecting  characters  I  dislike.  Alma,  you  know.  Con- 
found them,  3^es  I  detest  them!" 

"And  I,"  rejoined  the  girl,  with  a  smile,  in  which  the  jocose 
and  serious  were  significantly  blended,  "I  am  too  much  my 
father's  daughter,  I  confess,  to  think  otherwise,  myself." 

"Why!  what?  how?"  hastily  exclaimed  the  Captain,  puz- 
zled and  uneasy  at  the  remark  of  the  other.  "Why,  what  on 
earth  can  this  all  mean.  No  rupture  brewing  between  you 
and  Jake,  is  there?" 

"Xot  that  I  am  aware  of,  as  far  as  there  are  any  ties  to 
sever — or,  at  least,  none  that  I,  as  yet,  have  been  the  just 
cause  of,  though" — 

"Though  what?"  sharply  demanded  the  father,  with   in- 


THE    GREEN    MOUNTAIN    BOYS.  S7 

creasing  irritation:  "Zounds!  ^-ou  don't  tliink  tlie  fellow  is 
Iryiug  to  claw  ofl,  do  you?  Curse  the  hollo vr-hearted — humph, 
what  was  I  going  to  say?" 

"iSTothing  but  the  truth,  father,  I  presume,"  answered  Al- 
ma, looking  up  with  a  faint  smile,  and  a  sort  of  cool  despera- 
tion in  her  manner. 

"Yes,  I  was,"  quickly  rejoined  the  other,  hitching  about 
in  his  chair.    "Blast  it!   girl,  why  didn^t  you  tell  me  I  lied?" 

"What,  tell  my  father  he  lied!"  said  the  girl,  roguishly; 
"no,  no!  that  would  have  been  the  worst  of  manners." 

"Yes,  yes,"  pettishly  returned  the  Captain,  "but  why  don't 
you  stand  up  for  him.  I  don't  like  this  don't  care  a  fig  sort 
of  way  you  have  about  the  business.  Hang  me  if  I  don't  be- 
lieve you  are  the  one,  after  all,  who  wishes  to  be  off  ?" 

"And  would  you  object  to  my  trying  to  get  the  start  of 
him!"  again  evasively  replied  the  girl,  "if  I  believed  he  was 
intending  to  desert  me  ?" 

"Why,  no," — answered  the  other,  "not  that  I  know  of;  no, 
that  would  be,  perhaps,  a  decent  finesse,  if  that  was  the  case, 
but  it  is  not.  Then  what  is  all  this  bothering  and  teasing  me 
for?" — he  continued,  in  a  vexed  and  expostulating  tone;  this 
supposing  things  that  are  not  so?  You  will  work  me  up  to  a 
fever;  make  me  mad,  march  mad,  without  letting  me  know 
which  of  you  to  be  mad  at.  'Tis  provoking,  insufferable,  girl! 
Why  not  tell  me  in  your  usual  direct,  off-hand  way,  at  once, 
how  the  matter  stands  between  you  and  Jake?" 

"Father,"  said  xilma,  seriously,  "I  most  certainly  would  tell 
you,  if  I  knew  myself." 

"Well,  if  that  don't  cap  the  whole,  now!"  said  the  Captain, 
eyeing  his  daughter  with  an  incredulous  and  somewhat  con- 
temptuous expression,  "a  courted  girl  know  nothing  of  her 
own  courtship!  your  caged  squirrel,  that  hangs  in  the  kitchen, 
yonder,  knows  nothing  of  nuts,  does  he?" 

"Now,  father,  you  wrong  me,"  said  the  other,  a  little 
piqued  at  the  taunt,  and  now  perceiving  the  necessity  of  being 
more  explicit  on  a  subject  which  she  felt  reluctant  to  discuss, 
lest  she  should,  by  such  frankness  as  she  could  wish  to  use, 
displease  her  sensitive  parent.  "Mr.  Sherwood  once  certainly 
made  me  proposals;  and  I,  knowing  how  much  you  had  the 
project  at  heart,  acquiesced,  or  rather,  I  did  not  reject  him; 
since  that  time,  he  has  not  often  reminded  me  of  the  subject. 
His  own  affairs  he  keeps  to  himself;  and  a  few  silly  eompli- 


98  THE    GREEN   MOUNTAIN   BOYS. 

ments  on  his  part,  completes  the  whole  story  of  what  you  call 
our  courtship/' 

"Beggarly  account!"  muttered  the  Captain,  with  an  air 
of  disappointment;  "beggarly  account  as  the  fellow  says  in 
the  play;  cold  business  this,  for  a  love  affair,  or  I  am  no  judge, 
ril  be  shot  if  I  am!  But,  zounds!''  he  continued,  again 
kindling  up,  "Why,  I  thought  it  was  all  a  settled  business! 
And  it  was  settled — and  would  be  now^  if  your  powers  of 
winning  were  exerted  to  have  it  so!  What  will  become  of  us 
the  Lord  only  knows,  if  this  falls  through." 

"Oh,  I  would  borrow  no  trouble  on  that  score,  sir,"  ob- 
served Alma. 

"But  I  shall  though" — rejoined  the  other.  "The  truth  is. 
Alma,  we  are  poor — poor  as  Job,  when  the  devil  had  done  his 
damnedest!  We  owe  Jake's  father — which,  as  he  is  sole  heir, 
is  the  same  as  Jake  himself, — for  nearly  all  we  have.  If  my 
little  Edward  could  have  been  spared  me — ^but  the  noble  boy 
is  gone;  and  that  "family  have  been  the  vortex  in  which  all 
my  jjroperty  and  expectations  have  been  swallowed  up;  I  do 
not  say  that  the  property  went  wrongfully;  but  it  went. 
Even  before  Jake  came  here,  I  had  thought  of  the  possibility, 
that  you  might  become  the  channel  by  which  this  property 
would  be  diverted  back  again  into  my  family.  And  when  he 
made  proposals  to  you,  and  I  understood  you  accepted  them, 
I  confess  I  was  gratified.  It  gladdened  my  old  desolate  and 
despairing  heart  with  the  thought  that  it  would  ensure  my 
comfort  in  my  decrepit  and  helpless  old  age,  while  it  would 
give  you  the  home  and  wealth  which  I  never  could  furnish 
you;  and  now  to  have  the  only  bright  streak  I  have  seen  for 
years  in  my  dark  future,  suddenly  blotted  out — to  have  the 
only  pleasant  cup  that  has  been  presented  to  me  for  so  long, 
thus  dashed  from  my  very  lips! — And  by  whose  hand?"  he 
added  with  startling  fierceness,  as,  trembling  with  rising  pas- 
sion, he  shook  his  clenched  fist  before  the  face  of  his  unoffend- 
ing daughter.  "By  whose  hand,  I  say?  Girl,  girl,  if  I  really 
thought" — 

"I  will  marry  him,  father,"  replied  the  girl,  bursting  into 
tears,  which  were  drawn  forth  more,  however,  by  the  picture 
he  had  drawn  of  his  hopes  and  sorrows,  than  by  his  menaces; 
"Oh,  I  will — I  will  marry  him,  for  your  sake,  dear  father, 
}f  it  breaks  my  heart!" 

^^Hang  it!    no,  you  shan't!'^    exclaimed  the  excitable  old 


THE   GREEN   MOUNTAIN   BOYS.  9d 

man,  touched  to  the  quick  at  the  sight  of  his  daughter's  tears, 
and  his  whole  feelings  undergoing  a  revulsion  as  sudden  as 
rose  the  tempest  of  his  passion;  "no,  you  shan^t!  Brand  me 
for  a  brute,  if  you  shall!  No — no — no,"  he  repeated,  till  his 
increasing  emotion  fairly  choked  his  utterance,  and  he  could 
articulate  no  more. 

The  tide  of  passion  having  risen  to  its  height,  was  now  left 
to  subside  in  the  pause  that  followed. 

"Let  us  now  dismiss  this  painful  subject  from  our 
thoughts,"  at  length  said  the  daughter,  the  first  to  recover 
her  composure,  "and  do  not  let  the  matter  further  disturb 
your  feelings,  my  dear  and  generous-hearted  father:  For 
whatever  be  the  final  result;  rest  assured,  that  I  will  never 
marry  without  your  full  consent." 

"Dutiful — noble  girl!"  sobbed  the  old  man,  dashing  away 
a  tear;  "God  has  left  me  a  consolation  in  you^  my  dear  daugh- 
ter, which  I  ought  to  be  thankful  for,  and  which,  but  for  my 
accursed  temper,  I  should  repay  with  better  treatment." 

"Oh,  do  not  name  it,  father,  do  not  name  it,"  replied  the 
daughter  with  a  sweet  and  cheering  smile;  "if  we  should  go 
upon  faults,  I  may  have  scores  of  them,  any  of  which,  perhaps, 
would  outweigh  the  solitary  one  you  tax  yourself  with." 

Miss  Hendee  had  never  before  ventured  so  far  in  manifest- 
ing a  disposition  to  thwart  the  known  feelings  and  wishes  of 
her  irritable  father.  But  her  late  accidental  interview  with 
Warrington,  whom  she  had  never  expected  again  to  see,  had 
forced  upon  her'mjnd  a  comparison  between  her  two  lovers, 
which  made  her  more  painfully  sensible  than  ever  how  much 
she  must  sacrifice  in  becoming  the  wife  of  Sherwood,  whose 
true  character,  as  deeply  veiled  as  he  had  endeavored  to  keep 
it  with  this  family,  she  had  in  some  measure  penetrated,  and 
she  could  not  forego  this  opportunity  of  letting  her  father  see 
how  heavy  upon  her  heart  hung  the  chain  that  she  was  wear- 
ing only  out  of  regard  to  his  happiness;  and  yet  scarcely 
more  now  than  before,  did  she  meditate  on  throwing  off  this 
chain,  by  which  she  had  passively  suffered  herself  to  be  bound. 
But  determining  to  defer  any  consummation,  which  might, 
for  the  present,  be  urged  upon  her,  she  suffered  herself  only 
to  hope  the  event  of  circumstances  more  auspicious  for  recon- 
ciling the  now  conflicting  duties,  which  she  owed  herself,  and, 
with  all  his  faults,  her  still  loved  parent. 

After  the  conversation  just  detailed,  the  parties  soon  re- 


100  THE    GREEN    MOUNTAIN    BOYS. 

paired  to  the  kitchen^  wliere^  in  his  great  arm-chair  before  the 
cheerful  fire,  the  Captain  was  accustomed  to  spend  his  even- 
ings, sometimes  listening  to  the  silver-toned  voice  of  his 
daughter,  as  she  sung  some  favorite  song,  or  read  some  favor- 
ite author,  and  sometimes  accounted  the  thrilling  incidents 
that  had  marked  his  adventures  while  battling  the  subtle  foe 
of  the  wilderness.  One  of  his  most  attentive  auditors,  when 
engaged  in  the  latter  employment,  v/as  Neshobee,  with  whom 
the  veteran  also  often  amused  himself  in  conversation,  either 
imparting  information  to  the  native,  or  listening  to  the  shrewd 
and  original  remarks  made  by  the  latter  in  answer  to  the  vari- 
ous questions  by  which  he  was  purposely  interrogated.  Per- 
ceiving now,  however,  that  the  place  of  this  almost  necessary 
adjunct  to  his  happiness  was  vacant,  the  Captain  immedi- 
ately inquired  of  Euth,  the  servant-maid  before  mentioned, 
if  she  knew  whither  the  Indian  had  gone. 

"He  is  out  in  the  field,  Captain,'^  rephed  the  person  ad- 
dressed, with  some"  signs  of  uneasiness  in  her  looks,  "and  I 
wonder  what  strange  thing  he  sees  or  hears  to-night,  that 
makes  him  act  so  oddly?  I  have  been  out  and  called  to  him, 
but  he  paid  no  attention  to  me,  and  kept  on  his  pranks,  some- 
times listening  with  his  ear  to  the  ground,  and  then  dodging 
or  crawling  from  one  stump  to  another." 

"Aha?"  said  the  Captain,  with  a  look  of  interest;  "those 
are  generally  pranks  that  mean  something  with  an  Indian.  I 
wonder  who  can  be  prowling  about  us  now?" 

"Mercy!"  exclaimed  Euth  in  alarm;  "if  it  should  be  the 
Green  Mountain  Boys!" — 

"The  worst  would  be  their  own,  I  think,"  coolly  observed 
the  Captain;  "that  is  if  they  come  to  show  us  such  play  as 
it  is  said  they  have  shown  some  on  Otter  Creek." 

"What  would  you  do,  father,  in  case  they  should  come  on 
such  an  errand?"  asked  Alma,  with  an  air  of  mingled  curiosi- 
ty and  concern. 

"What  would  I  do,  child?  Wh}^,  I  would  put  a  rifle  bul- 
let through  the  first  one  who  should  attempt  to  enter,  even 
if  it  should  be  Warrington  himself.  Be  sure,  I  know  but  lit- 
tle of  this  cursed  dispute  about  titles.  They  may  have  as 
much  right  to  lands  that  they  have  bought,  and  first  im- 
proved, as  the  Yorkers,  for  aught  that  I  know;  and  I  was  never 
for  hanging  them  for  fighting  in  such  a  case.  But  here — 
why  zounds!   do  you  think  when  I  have  got  the  first  posses- 


THE    GREEN    MOUNTAIN    BOYS.  101 

sion,  and  done  so  much  upon  the  place^  that  I  am  going  to 
give  it  up  to  the  greedy  dogs?  No!  not  if  their  great  devil 
and  all  generalissimo^  Ethan  Allen,  should  come  on  with  all 
his  forces,  would  I  give  it  up  without  a  fight!  Hoo!  they 
shall  have  my  heart's  blood  first!'' 

"I  trust  there  will  be  no  necessity  for  bloodshed  anywhere, 
father/'  rejoined  the  daughter,  quite  composedly;  "I  have  rea- 
son to — that  is,  I  do  not  believe  the  Green  Mountain  Boys 
will  make  the  least  attempt  to  molest  us." 

"Well — well,  girl,"  said  the  Captain,  scanning  the  other 
closely,  and  at  first  with  rather  a  puzzled  air,  which  soon,  how- 
ever, gave  way  to  a  look  of  approbation;  '^I  must  say  that 
does  not  seem  much  like  borrowing  trouble,  as  most  of  you 
women  do  in  such  cases.  However,  I  have  been  taught  by 
the  Indians,  and  sometimes  have  paid  dear  for  my  schooling 
too,  that  this  borrowing  trouble  is  not  always  so  bad  a  thing 
after  all;  as  it  generally  keeps  us  well  guarded  against  a  sur- 
prise. But  here  comes  our  scout;  so  let  us  hear  his  report. 
Well,  ISTeshobee,  they  say  you  are  scouting  to-night — what 
is  in  the  wind?" 

'^'Me  hark  um,  but  no  tell  um,"  replied  the  Indian,  quietly 
taking  his  place  by  the  fire. 

The  dog  in  the  yard  now  gave  one  of  those  faint,  indecisive 
sort  of  yelps  usual  with  the  animal  when  doubtful  whether 
he  has  heard  something  which  should  require  his  notice. 

"Beagle  thinks  pretty  much  as  you  do,  Neshobee,"  said  the 
Captain,  comprehending  the  tone  of  the  dog;  "but  hark!" 
he  added,  as  the  animal  barked  again,  and  in  a  more  decided 
manner;  "I  can't  read  that  so  easily.  What  do  you  make  of 
it,  boy?" 

"Beag  say  that  no  four-foot  coming,  Cappen,"  said  the  na- 
tive, unconcernedly. 

"Is  the  rifle  well  loaded,  Neshobee?"  asked  the  Captain, 
glancing  at  the  fire-arms  suspended  by  hooks  on  the  wall. 

"Yas!" 

"And  the  fowling-piece?'^ 

"Me  spose  um." 

"Very  well,  down  with  them,  then!  Alma,  step  and  bring 
me  my  pistols!  and  in  the  mean  time  we  will  bar  the  door — 
Euth,  lend  a  hand!  If  these  fellows,"  continued  the  Captain, 
coolly  assisting  to  execute  the  several  commands  he  had  so 
rapidly  given  to  his  household — "if  these  fellows  had  any  hon- 


102  THE    GREEN    MOUNTAIN    BOYS. 

est  errand^  they  would  come  up  to  the  house  at  once  like 
men,  instead  of  skulking  around  at  a  distance,  as  they  evi- 
dently are.     We  may  as  well  be  prepared  for  them/^ 

"Father/'  said  Alma,  returning  with  the  required  pistols, 
and  now  manifesting  the  most  lively  concern.  "Father,  I  do 
beg  of  you  not  to  think  of  firing  on  any  one  rashly — ascertain 
what  they  want,  at  all  events.  Your  apprehensions,  I  think, 
are  wholly  groundless — I  cannot  think — indeed  I  am  very 
sure" — 

A  gentle  rap,  rap,  rap!  on  the  outside  of  the  door  caused 
the  speaker  suddenly  to  suspend.  All  now  stood  hushed  in 
silence,  till  the  rapping  was  repeated,  in  several  louder  and- 
more  distinct  knocks. 


CHAPTER  X. 


"But  who  was  he,  that  on  his  hunting  spear 
Lean'd  with  a  prouder  and  more  fiery  bearing? 
His  was  a  brow  for  tyrant  hearts  to  fear, 
Within  the  shadow  of  its  dark  locks  wearing 
That  which  they  may  not  tame — a  soul  declaring 
War  against  earth's  oppressors." 


"Hallo,  there!''  called  out  Captain  Hendee,  in  no  very  gen- 
tle tones,  as  he  cocked  his  pistols,  and  threw  himself  into  an 
attitude  of  defense.     "Hallo!   who  comes?" 

"InTo  enemy,  to  say  the  least,"  answered  the  voice  without. 

"Let  him  in,  father,  do  let  him  in!"  said  Miss  Hendee  in  a 
low  beseeching  tone. 

"What,  without  giving  his  name !"  said  the  Captain.  "Why 
child,  I  don't  know  that  voice  from  Adam's!  No,  no,  friend 
or  foe,  he  shall  undergo  that  ceremony." 

"Well,  father,  you  can  just  ask  him,  without  being  so  rough, 
can't  you?"  interposed  the  daughter,  in  an  earnest  half  whis- 
per, quietly  placing  her  hand  on  the  arm  of  the  other. 

"Friend,"  said  Captain  Hendee,  softening  down  at  the  en- 
treaties of  his  daughter,  and  as  it  occurred  to  him  that  the 
tones  of  the  voice  he  had  just  heard  were  entirely  of  a  pacific 
character:  "friend,  will  you  favor  us  with  your  name?" 


THE    GREEN   MOUNTAIN   BOYS.  103 

"Captain  Hendee,"  said  the  man,  seeming  to  hesitate  about 
complying.  "I  am  wholly  unattended^,  your  dog  here  seems 
to  acknowledge  my  acquaintance,  and  if  you  will  not  do  the 
same,  when  I  am  admitted/'  he  added  in  rather  a  jocose  tone, 
"I  will  agree  to  depart  as  peaceably  as  I  came.'' 

"Humph!  me  know  that  man  talk!  Him  no  bad!"  said  the 
Indian,  with  a  low  chuckle. 

The  Captain,  now,  evidently  a  little  chagrined  at  the  sus- 
picions he  had  entertained,  and  the  parade  he  had  made,  im- 
mediately drew  out  the  bar,  and  opened  the  door;  when  the 
visitor  entered,  but  quickly  paused,  after  entering  the  thresh- 
old, to  receive  the  scrutinizing  look  of  the  other. 

"What!  no — yes,  'tis!"  exclaimed  Hendee,  between  per- 
plexity and  surprise,  after  looking  a  few  seconds  into  the  face 
of  the  new-comer.  "Well,  now,  by  the  great  Jupiter!  if  I 
am  not  absolutely  ashamed  of  myself!  Mr.  Howard!"  he 
continued,  advancing,  and  cordially  shaking  the  other  by  the 
hand,  "Mr.  Howard,  God  bless  you,  sir,  how  do  you  do? 
Apologies  by  the  dozen  are  yours! — or  should  be,  if  such 
moon-shine  concerns  were  ever  worth  offering.  But  walk 
in,  walk  in,  sir.  Here  are  my  family — all  together  now — they 
were  not  when  you  saw  us,  I  think.  Alma  you  are  acquainted 
with — Miss  Euth,  this  is  Mr.  Howard.  And  here  is  another, 
ISTeshobee,  we  call  him,  a  native,  as  you  perceive,  but  for  all 
that  an  adopted  member  of  our  family." 

Miss  Hendee,  though  much  embarrassed  at  this  meeting,  in 
spite  of  all  her  atteijipts  to  appear  composed,  managed  nev- 
ertheless, to  exchange  the  customary  salutations  in  such  a 
manner  as  to  conceal  her  embarrassment  from  all  except  her 
lover;  between  whom  and  herself  it  seemed  to  be  tacitly  un- 
derstood that  they  should  meet  each  other  as  for  the  first  time, 
without  making  the  slightest  allusion  to  their  late  interview. 
There  was  another  of  the  family  group,  also,  that  came  in 
for  his  share  of  surprise,  at  least,  in  some  of  the  circumstances 
attending  this  meeting.  And  that  was  the  Indian.  Not  ex- 
pecting to  see  A^arrington  here  till  he  heard  his  voice  at  the 
door,  and  never  dreaming  till  this  moment  but  that  the  latter 
and  his  master's  family  were  entire  strangers,  the  poor  fel- 
low, when  he  saw  them  meet  as  old  acquaintances,  and,  above 
all,  when  he  heard  Captain  Hendee  address  the  other  by  the 
name  of  Howard,  looked  perfectly  confounded,  and  expressed 
as  much  unfeigned  astonishment  as  an  Indian  countenance, 


104  THE    GREEN    MOUNTAIN    BOYS. 

perhaps,  ever  exhibited.  The  instinctive  prudence  of  his  race, 
however,  prevented  him  from  betraying,  by  words,  his  surprise 
and  perplexity,  or  exposing  Warrington  in  the  disguise  which 
he  supposed  was  for  some  good  reasons  assumed. 

"AVell,  Mr.  Howard,^'  resumed  the  Captain,  after  the  usual 
salutations  were  over,  "I  am  right  happy  to  renew  my  acquain- 
tance with  you,  and  have  the  opportunity  to  express  personal- 
ly, my  obligations  to  you  for  your  many  kindnesses  to  us  at 
the  time  of  my  accident  on  the  road.  You  probably  thought 
our  departure  rather  abrupt  on  your  return.  But  you  re- 
ceived my  note,  did  you  not?" 

^'jSTo,  sir,  neither  note  nor  message." 

^'What!  then  that  old  heedless  poodle  of  a  landlady  forgot 
it,  or  more  probably  lost  it,  and  to  mend  the  matter,  thought 
she  would  conceal  from  you  that  I  gave  her '  one.  Well, 
well,  you  must  have  thought  us  rather  singular  beings,  as  well 
for  that  as  for  some  other  things  you  perhaps  noticed  in  us. 
For  I  remember  we  kept  you  pretty  much  in  the  dark  about 
our  affairs.  The  fact  was,  Mr.  Hovrard,  and  I  care  not  now 
who  knows  it,  that  I  was  then  under  the  apprehension  of 
being  pursued  and  taken  back  by  creditors,  before  I  could 
reach  my  connections  in  x\lbany,  where  I  expected  to  obtain 
the  means  of  satisf^dng  them,  as  I  did  before  making  this 
j)ur  chase." 

"You  did  not  return  then  ?" 

"No!  When  I  arrived  there,  finding  that  sales  were  mak- 
ing in  -these  lands,  I  concluded  on  a  life  in  the  woods — made 
a  purchase — came  on  here  the  first  season  with  hired  men, 
and  then  sent  for  Alma  from  Albany,  and  the  rest  of  the  fam- 
ily and  goods  from  Connecticut." 

"And  what  directed  you  particularly  to  this  location?" 

"My  own  knowledge  of  the  country,  obtained  in  the  wars 
when  I  was  campaigning  with  Put  and  Eogers  along  the  bor- 
ders of  this  then  bloody  lake.  I  remember  this  spot  well.  A 
pitch  had  been  made  here  by  some  Frenchmen,  who  cleared 
up  several  acres,  lived  here  a  few  years,  and  then  deserted  the 
place.  This  was  the  first  opening  made  this  side  of  the  Con- 
necticut river,  all  the  rest  of  the  country  being,  at  the  time 
I  first  saw  the  spot,  one  broad,  unbroken  wilderness.  Many  a 
weary  march,  and  many  a  cold,  wet  bed  have  I  had  on  these 
dark  and  tangled  shores.  I  have  often  wondered  how  we 
could  have  out-lived  such  hardships,     With  the  constitution 


THE   GREEN   MOUNTAIN   BOYS.  105 

and  spirits  I  then  possessed,  liowever,  I  had  hut  Httle  dread 
of  the  woods,  or  the  red  imps  that  infested  them.  But  my 
days  of  hghting  are  now  over,  Mr.  Howard.'^ 

"Some,  in  my  situation,  with  these  evidences  around,  might 
feel  disposed  to  douht  that,  Captain,^^  smilingly  observed 
AVarrington,  motioning  to  the  fire-arms,  which  had  not  been 
yet  replaced. 

"Ah,  you  have  me  there,"  gayly  responded  the  other;  "but 
honestly,  we  were  expecting  visits  of  a  different  character. 
If  those  rough  dealing  devils,  the  Green  Mountain  Boys,  had 
beset  us,  instead  of  our  peaceable  old  friend,  Dr.  Hunter, 
there  is  no  telling  but  even  so  broken  down  an  old  Trojan, 
as  I  am,  might  have  shown  some  fight  on  the  occasion." 

"Perhaps,  sir,"  replied  the  guest  in  the  same  spirit;  "I 
should  tender  my  condolence  at  your  disappointment  in  not 
being  allowed  the  chance  to  exercise  your  old  vocation." 

"Not  a  whit,  not  a  whit,  sir.  For  I  should  extremely  regret 
to  be  forced  into  a  quarrel  with  my  countr3^men  in  defense  of 
what  I  consider  my  rightful  possessions.  And  I  hope  it  may 
never  be  the  case.  But  we  have  had  some  reason  to  believe 
otherwise  within  a  day  or  two  past.  A  friend  apprised  me, 
that  a  band  of  these  fellows  was  abroad,  and  probably  on  their 
way  to  this  part  of  the  lake  shore;  and  our  two  scouts  here, 
x^eshobee  and  Beagle,  having  successively  made  their  reports 
in  their  respective  fashions,  to-night,  that  there  were  skulk- 
ers in  the  bush  I,  for  one,  began  really  to  expect  that  we  had 
got  to  do  battle  for  our  home.  Alma  here,  however,  I  am  half 
ashamed  to  own,  Was'less  apprehensive,  and  bore  herself  more 
coolly  than  any  of  the  garrison,  not  excepting  the  old  soldier 
of  forty  battles  at  their  head!  Hang  me!  if  I  don't  believe, 
the  girl,  like  old  Falstaff,  knew  by  instinct  who  was  coming! 
Come,  child,  now  be  honest,  was  it  not  so?" 

But  Alma,  whose  head  suddenly  dropped  at  the  remark,  and 
whose  fair  cheek  glowed  like  the  fire  before  which  she  was 
sitting,  was  quite  too  busy  with  her  pretty  fingers  in  tumb- 
ling over  the  contents  of  her  v^ork-basket  for  a  thimble,  or 
some  other  article,  that  became  just  at  that  moment  unac- 
countably missing,  to  heed  the  question,  or  think  of  answering 
it.  Even  Warrington  appeared  to  be  a  little  discomposed 
at  this  close,  though  random  shot  of  the  old  Captain;  but  he 
did  not  forget  to  throw  a  glance  of  gratitude  towards  his  fair 
friend  for   the   confidence,  which   the    Captain's   statement 


106  THE   GREEN   MOUNTAIN   BOYS. 

seemed  to  imply  that  she  had  placed  in  his  assurances  at 
their  late  interview. 

Captain  Hendee,  without  seeming  to  notice  the  sensation 
which  his  last  remarks,  intended  only  for  a  passing  joke,  pro- 
duced on  some  of  his  auditors,  at  length  resumed: 

"You  wandered  round  the  horders  of  the  wood  some  time 
before  you  found  us,  I  conclude,  sir,  from  the  noises  that 
E'eshobee  heard  ]3revious  to  your  arrival?" 

"Oh,  no,  sir,  I  came  direct,  and  without  stopping." 

"I  don^t  see,  then,  hut  we  have  as  much  reason  now,  as 
before,  to  expect  a  visit  from  the  enemy  to-night,"  musingly 
observed  the  Captain. 

"Me  guess  um  what  I  hear  no  Mountain  Boys,"  said  ISTe- 
shobee,  looking  significantly  at  Warrington,  as  if  he  considered 
the  latter  to  have  the  most  interest  in  the  information  thus 
imparted. 

STeither  the  remark  of  the  Indian,  nor  the  meaning  look 
that  accompanied  it,  was  lost  on  Warrington,  as  was  evident 
from  the  expression  of  uneasiness  that,  for  an  instant,  be- 
came visible  on  his  countenance;    but  he  remained  silent. 

"Which  way  did  you  come,  Mr.  Howard?"  resumed  the 
Captain;  "I  believe  you  have  not  told  us,  nor,  indeed,  how 
you  became  apprised  of  our  j^resent  residence?" 

Warrington,  catching  a  forbidding  glance  from  Miss  Hen- 
dee,  was  hesitating,  on  her  account  as  well  as  his  own,  what 
answer  he  should  frame  to  the  embarrassing  question,  when 
he  was  suddenly  relieved  from  his  dilemma  by  a  bold,  heavy 
rap  at  the  door. 

Captain  Hendee,  feeling  more  assured  this  time  from  the 
reinforcement  received  in  his  friend  Howard,  who,  as  usual, 
had  his  rifle  with  him,  immediately -rose,  and,  with  but  a 
slight  hesitation,  opened  the  door;  when  he  suddenly  paused, 
and  stood  a  moment  gazing  in  mute  surprise  at  the  figure  be- 
fore him.  Soon  recovering,  however,  he,  in  a  sort  of  hesitat- 
ing and  doubtful  tone,  invited  the  man  to  enter. 

Acknowledging  the  proffered  courtesy  with  a  stately  bow, 
the  stranger  advanced,  with  a  bold,  free  step  and  a  fearless 
air,  into  the  middle  of  the  room,  where  he  paused,  and  bowed 
slightly  to  each  of  the  assembled  group,  most  of  whom,  how- 
ever, were  too  much  surprised  and  over-awed  at  the  singular 
and  formidable  appearance  of  the  man  to  return  his  saluta- 
tions.    And,  indeed,  his  appearance  was  of  so  unique  and 


THE   GREEN   MOUNTAIN    BOYS.  107 

striking  a  character  as  well  to  warrant  the  sensation  which 
his  presence  seemed  to  produce.  Of  an  uncommon  height^ 
and  with  an  extraordinary  breadth  of  chest,  supplied  with 
large  brawny  limbs,  his  whole  frame  constituted  a  figure  of 
the  most  Herculean  cast;  while  his  large,  darkly  bright  eyes, 
and  the  air  of  intelligence  that  marked  the  general  expression 
of  his  coarse,  lion-like  features,  gave  evidence  that  his  intel- 
lectual powers  were  not,  as  frequently  occurs  in  such  in- 
stances, Vv'holly  incommensurate  with  his  physical  proportions. 
A  modern  phrenologist,  indeed,  while  comparing  his  high  and 
remarkably  expansive  forehead,  with  the  vast  volume  which 
composed  the  back  part  of  his  head,  might  be  much  puzzled 
to  decide  whether  his  intellectual  or  animal  nature  would  most 
predominate  in  his  character.  His  dress,  which  was  likewise 
somewhat  singular  for  the  times,  consisted  of  high,  heavy 
boots,  buff  breeches  and  doublet,  with  a  high  collared,  white 
shag  coat  of  the  frock  kind,  all  of  which  was  surmounted  by 
a  fine,  though  much  worn  beaver,  slouched,  except  the  front 
part,  which  was  turned  up  so  as  to  give  an  additional  bold- 
ness to  his  large  features,  and  to  impart  somewhat  of  a  bandit 
aspect  to  his  appearance.  This,  to  ordinary  observation,  com- 
pleted his  outward  equipment;  though  a  closer  inspection 
might  have  revealed  the  shape  of  a  stout  pistol  swelling  the 
smooth  and  snugly  setting  leather  over  each  of  his  breeches 
pockets,  while  the  buck-horn  handle  of  a  large  war-knife 
might  occasionally  be  seen  protruding  from  its  sheath  at- 
tached to  the  side  lining  of  his  coat. 

Placing  the  heavy  rifle  which  he  bore  in  his  hand  in  a 
corner,  the  stranger  now  advanced,  and,  with  an  air  of  easy 
unconcern,  seated  himself  by  the  side  of  his  host,  in  the 
family  circle  round  the  fire. 

"My  name  is  Hendee,"  at  length  said  the  Captain,  evi- 
dently not  wholly  at  ease  in  the  presence  of  his  bold  and  fear- 
ful looking  visitor,  "my  name  is  Hendee,  and  being  no  great 
stickler  for  ceremony,  I  hope  I  shall  be  excused,  sir,  in  say- 
ing that  it  always  affords  me  pleasure  to  know  by  what  name 
I  may  address  my  guests.'' 

"That's  right!"  bluntly  commenced  the  stranger  in  reply, 
"and  you  got  at  it  ingeniously  too,  by  George!" 

"I  meant  no  offense,  sir." 

"O,  no,  but  let  me  see — ^it  is  now  May,  is  it  not?'' 

^Tes,  sir," 


108  THE    GREEN   MOUNTAIN   BOYS. 

"Well,  then,  for  the  month  of  May,  my  name  is  Smith.'* 

^'Sir? — did  I  rightly  understand  you,  sir?'' 

"I  presume  so — ^I  said  Smith,  because  tliere  are  more  of  that 
name  than  any  other/' 

"Yes,  sir,  but  what  follows  from  that?" 

"Why,  of  course,  sir,  that  you  stand  a  better  chance  to  get 
my  right  name;  men  will  lie  like  the  devil,  sometimes,  you 
know!" 

"Eeally,  sir!"  said  the  Captain,  his  eyes  beginning  to  shoot 
fire  at  this  apparently  intended  insult,  "really,  sir,  I  cannot 
understand  your  drift,  if  you  do  not  mean  to  offer  us  an 
affront." 

"Ha!  ha!  ha!"  roared  the  stranger  in  a  voice  that  shook 
the  house,  "well,  now,  if  that  ain't  a  good  one!  ha!  ha!  ha! 
Wh}^,  no,  friend,"  he  continued,  familiarly  turning  towards 
the  other,  and  giving  him  a  rough  slap  on  the  shoulder,  "no, 
no,  friend;  but  you  just  said  you  was  no  great  stickler  for  cere- 
mony— no  ain't  I,  as  you  see.  So  let  us  be  honest,  and  live  up 
to  our  professions." 

"Agreed  to  that.  And  yet — "  rejoined  the  Captain,  per- 
fectly at  a  loss  what  to  make  of  his  strange  guest,  and  though 
still  vexed,  yet  now  half  ashamed  of  the  feeling  he  had  shown 
— "'and  yet,  sir,  I  have  met,  in  the  course  of  my  life,  but  with 
few  honest  men  who  were  afraid  to  tell  their  names." 

"Why,  the  truth  is,"  replied  the  other,  with  an  air  of  much 
seriousness,  "that  you  are*  all  such  quarrelsome  curses,  down 
here  in  the  Grants,  that  a  stranger,  like  myself,  can't  safely 
travel  among  you  by  anj^  other  name  than  Smith,  if  he  had 
one.  As  to  myself,  I  don't  exactly  know,  in  the  strictly  legal 
sense  of  the  thing,  that  I  have  any  name — ^to  speak  of,  except 
Smith;  for  I  still  stick  to  Smith,  mind  ye — that  is,  for  the 
month  of  May." 

"Well,  well,  have  it  as  you  will,  man,"  observed  Sendee, 
now  softening  down,  and  beginning  to  be  amused  in  spite  of 
himself  at  the  blunt  drollery  of  the  other.  "But  I  must  say 
you  are  the  greatest  oddity  J  have  met  with  for  many  a  day." 

"That  may  be,  friend,"  said  the  stranger,  his  countenance 
assuming  the  cast  of  sincerity;  "but  as  you,  like  a  wise  man, 
have  concluded  not  to  be  offended  at  nonsense,  let  us  talk 
sense  a  little:  Captain  Tlenclee,  a  man  of  your  intelligence  and 
observation  cannot  but  have  long  since  noticed  the  quarrel 


THE    GREEN    MOUNTAIN    BOYS.  109 

that  has  been  brewing  between  us  colonists,  and  the  mother 
counti\y  ?'' 

^'I  have^  sir;  and  with  the  most  j^ainful  regret/'  was  the 
guarded  reply. 

"And  those  Bostonians  and  Virginians,  who  have  taken  the 
lead  in  the  resistance  to  the  Kings's  authorit}^/^  resumed  the 
stranger,  again  assuming  an  equivocal  look,  and  fixing  his 
eyes  keenly  on  the  countenance  of  the  other,  "those  fellows 
are  a  set  of  Christless  knaves,  for  their  rebellion,  you  agree?" 

"Knaves!  How  so,  sir?"  replied  the  Captain,  hastily,  and 
Avith  a  look  that  betrayed  more  of  his  feelings  than  he  in- 
tended should  have  been  revealed  to  a  stranger,  and  especially 
to  one  who  apparently  entertained  sentiments  on  this  sub- 
ject so  different  from  those  which  he  had  long  privately  cher- 
ished. 

"Aha!"  eagerly  exclaimed  the  stranger,  with  evident  de- 
light, "sits  the  v\dnd  in  that  quarter^  really  and  truly?  Well, 
I  am  not  disappointed  in  you,  after  all,  thank  God!" 

"Yes,  but  you,  sir?"*— said  the  Captain,  again  confounded 
at  the  seemingly  contradictory  language  and  manner  of  the 
other,  "what  did  you  say  but  a  moment  since?" 

"What  did  I  say?  0,  pooh!  that  is  nothing!"  replied  the 
stranger.  "But  again  and  seriously,  Captain  Hendee  (for 
I  am  now  satisfied  that  it  wdll  do  to  ask  you  the  question), 
should  matters  proceed  to  open  hostilities  in  an  attempt  to 
burst  these  accursed  fetters,  how  far  could  your  countenance 
and  support  be  depended  on?" 

"Stranger,"  said  Captain  Hendee,  looking  the  other  full  in 
the  face,  "as  singular  a  man  as  you  appear,  you  nevertheless 
have  an  honest  countenance,  and  would  not,  I  think,  try, 
in  my  owm  house,  to  lead  me  into  a  snare.  But  granting  that 
your  sentiments  and  mine  coincide  on  this  subject,  what 
could  you  ask,  or  expect,  from  an  infirm  old  man,  whose  only 
home  and  property  lie  under  the  very  mouths  of  the  guns  of 
Fort  Frederick?"* 

"I  see,  I  see!"  answered  the  stranger.  "But  it  may  be 
worth  much  to  us  to  know  that  your  heart  is  in  the  right 
spot.  For  the  times  are  coming  when  even  what  such  as  you 
can  do,  may  be  of  incalculable  importance  to  the  cause.     In- 

*  The  fort  at  Crown  Point,  was  in  the  old  French  wars,  de- 
nominated Fort  Frederick. 


no  THE   GREEN   MOUNTAIN   BOYS. 

deed,  sir/*'  he  continued  with  increasing  earnestness,  and  with 
deep  and  startling  emphasis,  "indeed,  sir,  those  times  are  al- 
ready at  the  door.     Blood — American  blood  has  been  shed!" 

"Where?  where?''  simultaneously  burst  from  the  lips  of 
Hendee  and  Warrington. 

"At  Lexington,"  resumed  the  stranger,  with  clenched  fist 
and  eye  of  fire.  "Fifty  ximerican  citizens  have  been  shot 
down  like  wild  cattle  by  a  foreign  soldiery!  and  their  blood 
has  gone  up  to  the  great  God  in  cries  of  vengeance!  All  Mas- 
sachusetts are  in  arms!  And  are  we  here  of  the  Green  Moun- 
tains to  remain  idle?"  he  added,  with  a  look  and  a  tone  of  al- 
most frightful  energy;  "by  all  the  thrones  of  heaven  and  hell, 
no,  no!" 

"Oh,  for  the  renovation  of  one  year  of  my  manhood's  vig- 
or!" exclaimed  the  Captain,  springing  from  his  chair,  and 
hastily  striding  round  the  room. 

"Ail  that  is  well  enough,  but  useless,  my  friend,"  observed 
the  stranger,  after  a  silence  among  the  company  of  a  tew  mo- 
ments, in  which  he  seemed  to  have  brought  his  feelings  back  to 
their  usual  current;  "so  instead  of  calling  on  Hercules,  like 
the  man  of  the  fable,  in  prayers  that  never  can  be  answered, 
be  thinking  what  you  can  do.  This  Indian," — he  continued, 
in  an  under  tone,  approaching  close  to  the  Captain — ^lie  is 
domesticated  in  your  family  ?" 

"Yes,  brought  up  by  us,  mostly;  a  cunning,  prudent  and 
faithful  fellow,"  replied  the  Captain,  in  a  voice  too  low  to 
be  heard,  as  he  supposed,  by  the  rest  of  the  company. 

"And  may  be  made  a  useful  friend  for  some  emergencies, 
with  your  permission,  Captain?" 

"You  have  it,  that  is  for  an  occasional  runner,  scout,  or 
the  like — I  should  not  like  to  part  with  him  for  any  great 
length  of  time,  however." 

"Here,  my  friend,"  said  the  stranger,  approaching  the  na- 
tive, and  presenting  him  with  a  valuable  pocket-knife,  "will 
you  take  this  as  a  gift  to  remember  me  by?  Now  look  me  in 
the  face." 

"Yas — umph!  Ah,  him  good — one  very  good!"  said  the 
Indian,  quickly  pocketing  the  knife. 

"J^ow,  Captain,"  said  the  stranger,  putting  on  his  hat,  and 
giving  other  indications  of  his  intention  to  depart,  "I  have 
only  to  say,  that  I  am  sorry  I  could  not  have  been  more  frank 
with  you  in  some  particulars;   but  circumstances  forbade  it. 


THE    GREEN    MOUNTAIN    BOYS.  Ill 

Now  I  must  be  off;  and  I  have  some  notion,"  he  continued, 
looking  at  Warrington,  ^'of  inviting  your  guest  here  to  accom- 
pany me  as  a  guide /^ 

"Mr.  Howard  is  an  old  acquaintance,  sir,  just  called  after  a 
long  separation,'^  said  the  Captain.  "We  should  he  sorry  to 
part  with  him  so  soon." 

"Mr.  Howard  will  remain  through  the  night  with  us,  sure- 
ly?" interposed  the  musical  voice  of  Miss  Hendee. 

The  stranger  gave  a  scrutinizing  look  at  the  father  and 
daughter,  and  ended  by  exchanging  with  Warrington  looks 
of  intelligence,  which  very  clearly  showed  that  the  two  were 
by  no  means  strangers  to  each  other.  Seeming  to  satisfy 
himself,  he  was  about  to  remark  further,  when  the  tramp  of 
men,  now  heard  approaching  the  door,  arrested  the  attention 
of  the  company.  The  rattling  of  guns  announced  them  to  be 
armed  men,  among  w^hose  voices  the  quick  ears  of  Miss  Hen- 
dee  recognized  that  of  Harrow.  Instantly  rising,  she  hastily 
invited  Warrington  to  take  a  seat  in  the  other  room;  and  the 
latter  complying,  the  lovers  disappeared  through  one  door, 
just  as  the  new  comers  entered  another. 


CHAPTER  XI. 


"Ha!  here  comes  those  we  counted  not  on  meeting.' 


The  company  whose  arrival  was  announced  at  the  close 
of  the  last  chapter,  proved  to  be  a  small  detachment  of  sol- 
diers from  the  opposite  Fort.  They  were  seven  or  eight  in 
number,  under  the  command  of  their  sergeant,  Harrow,  who, 
with  three  others,  after  knocking,  though  scarcely  waiting 
for  a  bidding,  unceremoniously  entered  the  kitchen,  the  re- 
mainder of  the  force  having  been  posted  at  the  doors  and 
windows  without,  to  prevent  all  escape  from  the  house.  As 
an  ostensible  reason  for  calling  at  this  time,  Harrow  carelessly 
observed,  that  being  out  in  pursuit  of  a  deserter,  a  part  of 
their  company  had  gone  up  the  lake  with  their  boat,  thus 
depriving  them  of  the  means  of  recrossing,  and  leaving  them 
no  other  resort  but  to  crave  a  shelter  of  Captain  Hendee  for 

8 


112  THE    GREEN    MOUNTAIN    BOYS. 

the  nigiit,  or^,  at  least,  till  their  boat  returned.  Calls  of  this 
kind  by  the  officers  and  soldiers  of  the  garrison  being  of  no 
very  nnfrequent  occurrence  at  the  house,  the  present  visit, 
therefore,  occasioned  the  Cai^tain  little  or  no  surprise,  and 
being  of  a  hospitable  turn,  and  fond,  as  might  be  supposed,  of 
having  those  for  company,  who  belonged  to  a  profession  in 
which  a  great  portion  of  his  own  life  had  been  spent,  he  ap- 
peared to  feel  quite  at  ease  with  his  new  guests.  Not  so, 
however,  with  all  the  company  assembled.  The  meeting  be- 
tween the  soldiers,  and  the  stout  stranger  before  described, 
seemed  to  be  mutually  unexpected,  and  evidently  but  little 
relished  by  the  latter.  For,  though  they  were  all  personally 
unknown  to  him,  yet  he  was  av^are  that  he  might  not  be  so 
to  them;  and  should  the  last  supposition  be  true,  as,  from 
certain  sly  looks  which  he  saw  exchanged  between  the  soldiers, 
he  thought  highly  probable,  he  was  sensible  that  he  had  a 
part  to  play  for  himself  and  Warrington,  of  whose  co-oper- 
ation he  felt  assured,  that  would  require  all  his  tact,  and  per- 
haps put  to  the  severest  test  the  powers  of  both  to  extricate 
them  from  the  threatened  difficult}^ 

!N"or  were  the  stranger^s  suspicions  by  any  means  ground- 
less. Darrow  had  before  seen  the  man,  and  at  once  recog- 
nized him  as  one,  who,  if  taken,  w^ould  prove  a  far  greater  prize 
than  the  jDcrson  vdiose  seizure  constituted  the  particular  ob- 
ject of  the  present  visit:  but  one,  at  the  same  time,  well  known 
to  be  the  most  formidable,  and  difficult  of  capture,  of  all 
the  Green  Mountain  outlaws. 

"That  ain^t  the  fellow  v\'e  came  for,'^  whispered  Darrow 
to  the  soldier  nearest  him,  the  first  opportunity  that  occurred 
for  so  doing,  unobserved.  "He  must  be  with  the  girl  in  the 
other  room,  I  think.  But  this  big  chap  is  one  of  the  same 
kidney,  only  worth  two  of  him,  if  taken;  secure  him,  as 
well  as  the  other,  and  your  pay  shall  be  doubled.  So  keep 
your  eyes  on  him  for  the  present,  and  we  will  wait  till  they 
go  to  bed,  and  get  to  sleep:  for  the  other  is  no  baby  for  a  tus- 
sle; and  this  one,"  he  continued,  with  a  significant  look,  as 
he  cast  a  fearful  glance  at  the  giant-like  person  of  the 
stranger;  "and  this  one,  to  say  nothing  of  the  ugly  instru- 
ments they  say  he  carries  under  his  clothes,  he  is — he's  the 
devil  and  all — he's  thunder!" 

This  information,  with  the  orders  accompanying  it,  being 
soon  passed  around  to  all  the  band,  every  movement  of  the 


THE    GREEN    MOUNTAIN    BOYS.  113 

stranger  was  regarded  with  the  most  suspicious  vigilance. 
But  he,  contrary  to  their  expectation,  made  not  the  slightest 
movement  which  indicated  that  he  was  meditating  any  at- 
tempt to  escape.  On  the  contrary,  tlie  more  he  was  watclied, 
the  more  unconscious  did  he  seem,  that  he  was  an  object  of 
suspicion  or  vigilance  with  any  of  the  company;  and  with 
the  utmost  unconcern  he  soon  began  to  mingle  in  the  conver- 
sation, commencing  with  those  blunt  cordial  kind  of  advances 
to  Darrow  and  as  many  of  his  men  as  he  could  find  excuse 
for  addressing  individually,  which  are  generally  the  surest, 
if  not  the  only  road  to  the  soldier's  heart.  Nor  was  it  long 
before  he  had  succeeded  in  putting  himself  on  a  familiar  foot- 
ing with  the  whole  band,  whose  feelings  and  senses,  in  spite 
of  the  distant  restraint,  and  guarded  watchfulness,  they  had 
imposed  on  themselves,  were  fairly  captivated  by  his  bold  sal- 
lies of  wit,  and  the  irresistible  drollery  of  his  manner.  Cap- 
tain Hendee,  with  his  war  stories,  was  completely  thrown  into 
the  shade  by  the  extraordinary  convivial  powers  of  the  stran- 
ger who,  having  now  fairly  become  the  hero  of  the  company, 
continued  to  pour  forth,  from  his  seemingly  inexhaustible 
resources,  sally  upon  sally,  with  increasing  brilliancy,  and 
anecdote  upon  anecdote,  each  of  which  was  more  ludicrous 
or  striking  than  the  preceding  one,  till  the  whole  party  became 
convulsed  with  merriment,  and  the  house  shook  v/ith  the  din 
of  laughter.  And  now  satisfied  with  the  success  that  had  so 
well  crowned  his  efforts  in  this  respect,  he  called  on  Captain 
Hendee  to  bring  on  glasses,  and  a  gallon  of  spirits  at  his 
expense,  declaring  that,  "of  all  God's  cattle,  he  preferred 
soldiers  for  companions.  It  was  not  every  day  that  a  hunter, 
whose  next  door  neighbors  and  common  acquaintances  were 
bears  and  wolves,  and  whose  sweethearts  and  select  friends 
were  wolverines  and  catamounts,  had  the  rare  luck  to  fall  into 
such  glorious  company.  He  could  well  afford  to  treat  and 
he  should  hold  it  a  privilege  to  have  a  bout  with  his  mihtary 
friends,  helping  them,  while  he  could  drink  health  to  the 
King,  confusion  to  all  enemies,  and  shame  to  the  devil.'' 

Leaving  this  bold,  sagacious,  and  singularly  gifted  outlaw 
and  his  companions  to  the  merriment  he  had  infused  into 
them,  and  the  boisterous  and  drunken  revelry  that  followed, 
we  will  now  repair  to  the  other  room,  where  a  far  different, 
though  no  less  interesting  scene  was  in  progress. 

"When  Miss  Hendee,  on  recognizing  the  voice  of  Darrow, 


114  THE    GREEN   MOUNTAIN   BOYS. 

among  those  of  others  about  to  enter  the  house,  so  abruptly 
invited  Warrington  to  take  a  seat  with  her  in  the  other  room, 
she  did  so  from  a  sudden  impulse,  arising  out  of  her  secret 
dread  of  encountering  one,  whose  recent  conduct  had  filled 
her  with  the  deepest  dislike,  coupled  with  a  sort  of  vague  ap- 
prehension that  the  visits  of  these  soldiers,  with  Darrow  at 
their  head,  at  this  particular  time,  was  in  some  way  to  affect 
the  safety  of  her  friend,  whom  she  thought  thus  to  shield 
from  the  impending  danger.  And  it  was  not  till  they  be- 
came seated  in  the  room  by  themselves,  that  it  occurred  to 
her,  that  she  had  voluntarily  afforded  her  lover  the  very  op- 
portunity, which,  at  their  recent  interview,  he  had  earnestly 
requested,  but  which  she  had  so  promptly  and  pointedly  re- 
fused him.  Blushing  deeply  at  the  thought  of  her  apparent 
inconsistency,  and  fearful  that  this  act  would  be  misconstrued 
by  the  other,  she  suddenly  commenced  uttering  an  apology 
or  explanation,  but  perceiving  some  worse  dilemma  from  so 
doing,  she  stopped  short  in  the  midst  of  a  sentence,  blushing 
more  deeply  than  at  first,  while  an  embarrassing  silence  en- 
sued, which  neither  party  for  some  moments,  was  able  to 
break.  Warrington,  however,  comprehending  the  cause  of 
her  embarrassment  at  a  glance,  and  anxious  to  relieve  it,  soon 
rallied,  and  observed: 

"Fear  not.  Miss  Hendee,  that  I  shall  misinterpret  this  act 
of  yours,  in  inviting  me  to  a  seat  with  you,  here:  I  believe 
I  can  appreciate  the  motives  that  led  to  it,  and  I  certainly  feel 
very  grateful  for  the  deed." 

"You  were  ever  generous,  Mr.  Howard,"  replied  Alma,  with 
a  grateful  smile,  ^^Dut  do  you  comprehend  all  the  motives 
that  might  have  influenced  me  in  this?" 

"I  may  not  all,  but  will  Miss  Hendee  "state  wherein  she  sup- 
poses I  may  not  understand  them?" 

"Did  you  recognize  any  of  the  voices  of  these  last  visitors, 
while  they  were  at  the  door,  or  have  you  since?" 

"I  can  scarcely  say  I  have,  though  I  conclude  them  to  be 
soldiers  from  yonder  garrison." 

"They  are — all  that  will  appear,  at  least,  I  presume,  and 
among  them  is  that  suspicious  fellow  from  whose  intrusion 
you  so  kindly  relieved  me  the  other  day.  He  went  away  at 
that  time,  I  think,  harboring  revengeful  feelings  towards  you, 
and  does  not  this  visit  involve  some  design  against  jouv  safe- 


THE   GREEN    MOUNTAIN    BOYS.  115 

ty? — Though  I  confess  I  can  hardly  see  how  3^011  should  be 
sought  here  with  any  purpose  of  revenge.'' 

"  You  may  be  rights  Sliss  Hendee/'  said  the  other,  thought- 
fully, after  a  silence  of  a  moment;  '^you  may  be  right  in 
supposing  me  the  object  of  this  visit.  I  have  had  some  sus- 
picions from  the  first  that  it  was  so;  and  I  have  noticed  some 
indications,  indeed,  since  we  have  been  in  this  room,  which 
go  to  confirm  me.  Yes,  you  may  be  right  in  this,  but  wrong, 
I  think,  in  judging  of  the  motives  that  have  led  to  the  visit.'' 

"What  other  motive  can  there  be  but  the  one  I  assigned?" 
at  length  asked  Alma,  with  an  air  of  perplexity  mingled  with 
some  uneasiness. 

'^Miss  Ilendee,"  resumed  Warrington,  with  considerable  em- 
barrassment at  the  effort,  "your  question  leads  me  to  a  declar- 
ation, which  my  painfully  conflicting  obligations  as  a  citi- 
zen, and  as  a  gentleman  who  has  received  much  kindness  from 
your  family,  will  be  some  excuse,  I  hope,  for  withholding 
till  now;  but  which  my  feelings  will  allow  me  to  vvdthhold 
no  longer.     Miss  Hendee,  my  name  is  not  Howard." 

"Not  Howard!"  exclaimed  Miss  Hendee,  with  a  look  of  un- 
feigned surprise,  '"l^oi  Howard!"  she  repeated,  the  tall  arches 
of  her  beautiful  brows  slightly  contracting  with  an  incipient 
frown.     "Surely,  surely,  sir!" 

"ISTor,  is  that,  I  fear  you  will  think,"  resumed  the  other  seri- 
ously, and  now  with  perfect  composure,  "the  Avorst  of  the 
avowal:  I  am  aware  what  I  risk — Avhat,  indeed,  I  shall  prob- 
ably forever  lose  in  your  esteem,  fair  lady.  But  duty  to  you, 
and  respect  to  my 'own  character,  compels  me  to  disclose. — ^I 
am  Charles  Warrington!" 

A  sharp,  inarticulate  exclamation  burst  from  the  lips  of 
the  astonished  and  recoiling  girl,  at  the  announcement  of 
the  name. 

"What  is  the  matter  there.  Alma?"  asked  Captain  Hendee, 
in  a  tone  moclulated  somewhere  between  the  jocose  and  anx- 
ious, as  he  thrust  his  head  partly  through  the  door,  beside 
which  he  was  sitting,  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  partition,  in 
the  other  room,  "what  is  the  case  there,  girl? — Doctor  Hunt- 
er is  not  pulling  a  tooth  for  you,  is  he  ?" 

Perceiving,  however,  nothing  but  dumb  show  going  on  be- 
tween the  parties,  and  satisfied  with  the  shot  he  had  given 
them,  he  left  them  to  another  embarrassing  silence,  which, 
for  many  minutes,  was  broken  by  neither. 


116  THE    GREEN    MOUNTAIN    BOYS. 

"I  am  so  surprised  at  this  strange  and  unexpected  develop- 
ment/^ at  lengtli  observed  Miss  Hendee,  though  with  mind 
and  leehngs  still  unsettled  and  balancing  between  the  former 
high  opinion  she  had  entertained  of  her  companion  as  How- 
ard, and  the  preconceived  picture  of  the  ruffian-like  char- 
acter with  which  she  had  been  accustomed  to  associate  War- 
rington: "so  surprised  that  I  hardly  know  what  I  should  say, 
or  how  I  should  act  towards  you,  sir,  in  the  new  character  in 
which  you  now  stand  before  me.  Am  I  to  understand  that 
our  quiet  home  here  is  now  to  be  made  the  theater  of  con- 
tention in  a  dispute  for  a  possession?" 

"Heaven  forbid!'^  replied  Warrington^  eagerl}^,  "you  have. 
Miss  Hendee,  my  pledge  already  in  this  respect,  given  to  you 
at  our  last  interview — can  you  doubt  my  will  to  redeem  it? 
And  you  now  perceive  with  what  authority  I  could  make  the 
assurance.  But  though  you  can  have  no  apprehensions  of 
this  kind  of  me,  or  my  people,  for  whom  I  can  safely  answer, 
yet  what  will  be  your  opinion  of  one  who  made,  and  has  since 
sought  your  acquaintance  under  a  disguised  name?  It  is 
that  which  troubles  me,  dear  lady.  And  in  that  you  have  an 
apparent  right,  at  least,  to  condemn  me,  though  not  acting  for 
myself,  but  for  those  who  assigned  me  the  part  in  which  dis- 
guise was  deemed  necessary." 

"You  need  not  forestall  your  sentence,  sir,"  said  the  other, 
something  very  like  a  smile  again  lighting  up  her  sweetly 
expressive  countenance,  "I  know  too  little  of  the  merits  of 
this  unhappy  controversy,  I  freely  confess,  to  feel  sure  of  doing 
justice  to  either  party  in  any  opinion  I  might  now  express.  I 
believe  I  can  still  put  trust  in  you — at  least,  I  will  for  the  pres- 
ent believe  so.  For  it  would,  indeed,  be  humiliating  to  us  all, 
to  find  ourselves  so  much  mistaken  in  one  whose  character  we 
had  so  highly  estimated.  Yes,  in  you,"  she  repeated  with  em- 
phasis, "but  in  your  party" — and  she  paused,  but  soon,  and 
without  finishing  the  sentence,  resumed,  "can  you  inform  me 
who  is  that  fearful  looking,  and  singular  stranger  in  the  other 
room? — or  was  I  mistaken  in  Judging  from  some  appear- 
ances I  noticed,  that  you  and  he  were  acquainted?" 

"Your  conjectures  were  true.  His  name,  however,  I  cannot 
disclose.  But  this  I  may  say,  that  he  is  not  all  that  he  may 
have  appeared  here  to-night;  and  yet  he  is  far  more — a  man 
of  many  high  and  noble  qualities,  combined  with  extraor- 
dinary powers  of  body  and  mind,  though  now  placed  here  in 


THE    GREEN    MOUNTAIN    BOYS.  117 

circumstances  as  inauspicious  as  my  own.  These  circum- 
stances, as  they  will  make  up  an  answer  to  the  question  you 
asked  before  I  announced  my  true  name^  I  will  now,  with 
your  permission,  briefly  explain." 

His  fair  auditor  signifying  a  willingness,  at  least,  to  listen 
to  the  explanation,  Warrington,  taking  a  comprehensiTe 
glance  at  the  true  grounds  of  the  controversy  between  the  set- 
tlers and  their  opponents,  drew  a  vivid  picture  of  the  wrongs 
and  consequent  sufferings  which  the  former  had  endured, 
and  which  led  to  the  part  he  had  taken  in  their  behalf — ex- 
plained the  necessity  of  the  disguise  he  had  assumed,  related 
his  subsequent  career,  and  the  consequences  to  himself  and 
all  those  v/ho  had  taken  a  conspicuous  ]3art  in  attempting 
to  defend  the  poor  settlers  against  the  rapacity  of  their  op- 
l^ressors. 

"Is  this,  Mr.  Howard — excuse  me,  Mr.  Warrington,  I  should 
say,"  observed  the  other,  evidently  interested,  and  even 
touched  by  the  recital  she  had  just  heard.;  "is  this,  indeed,  an 
impartial  account  of  this  hapless  contest?  And  are  these 
armed  men  here  to  drag  you  to  prison,  and  an  ignominious 
death,  for  acting  a  part  like  this?  Why,  0  why,  did  you 
venture  here  into  the  ver}^  jaw^s  of  the  lion?  and  now,  why 
do  you  a  moment  linger?  why  not  escape  while  they  are  at 
their  noisy  carousals  in  the  other  room? — that  door — these 
windows'" — 

"Have  all  been  guarded;  each  by  a  soldier  with  a  loaded 
musket,  from  the  moment  we  entered  this  room.  An  ear, 
practiced  in  the  forest,  has  not  failed  to  catch  the  sound  of 
their  cautious  and  stealth}^  tread,  the  occasional  rubbing  of 
their  muskets  against  their  buttons,  and  indications  of  their 
presence  and  object  not  to  be  mistaken." 

"Oh!  I  do  wonder  how  3^ou  can  be  so  calm.  What  hope — 
what  resource  is  there  left  you^  in  v/hich  you  can  now  trust 
for  escape?"  -         • 

"Many!  be  not  concerned.  They  probably  think  we  shall 
remain  through  the  night,  and  will  deem  it  safest  to  defer  any 
attempt  to  seize  us  till  they  suppose  us  asleep.  I  trust  much 
in  my  friend,  ever  fruitful  in  expedients,  and  noAV  acting  a 
jDart  in  the  other  room,  as  nigh  as  I  can  judge  from  what  oc- 
casionally reaches  my  ear,  with  reference  to  effecting  this 
object.  J^eshobee  is  a  friend;  and  may  I  not  hope  an  acqui- 
escence, at  least,  from  you?" 


118  THE    GREEN    MOUNTAIN    BOYS. 

"Most  certainly  the  latter,  and  if  I  could — but  what  could 
I  do?" 

'Terhaps  nothing — perhaps  much.  We  must  act  on  cir- 
cumstances. But  had  we  now  not  better  part?  I  feel  anx- 
ious to  be  co-operating  with  my  friend/'  said  Warrington, 
rising  and  moving  towards  the  door. 

"One  moment  longer — that  is,  if  you  are  not  too  anxious 
to  go/'  observed  Alma,  motioning  him  to  remain. 

"What  w^ould  my  fair  friend  say?''  asked  the  other,  per- 
ceiving her  to  hesitate. 

"Should  you  escape  this  danger,  as  I  hope  you  may,"  at 
length  replied  Alma,  "I  trust — I  pray,  that  you  will  not  be 
so  thoughtless  as  to  venture  here  again?  There  may  be  other 
hazards  in  repeating  your  visits  here,  besides  the  fearful  one 
you  have  already  incurred  of  being  seized  in  behalf  of  the 
public  authorities." 

"Indeed!   but  in  vv^hat  way,  lady?" 

"There  may  be  those/'  she  answered  with  evident  reluc- 
tance, and  with  severely  conliicting  feelings,  "who  would  look 
on  3^our  visits  here  Avith — with  suspicion;  and  who,  I  fear — 
who,  perhaps,  I  would  say,  might  have  a  disposition — that  is, 
he  may" — 

"I  did  not  understand  the  name,"  said  Warrington,  with 
the  aj)pearance  of  wishing  to  relieve  the  embarrassment  of  the 
other,  and  assist  her  to  proceed, 

"I  did  not  name  him,  and  I  would  glady  avoid  doing  so," 
replied  she,  still  hesitating. 

"But  of  what  avail  will  be  your  caution,  unless  I  know 
against  whom  to  be  on  my  guard?"  asked  he,  with  a  little 
spice  of  the  lawyer  in  the  question,  he  being  more  anxious  to 
learn  the  name  of  his  unknown  rival,  to. whom  he  rightl}^  con- 
jectured she  alluded,  than  concerned  on  account  of  any  dan- 
ger he  apprehended  from  his  jealousy  or  malice. 

"But  if  you  kept  entirely  away? — unless,  perhaps,  you 
should  be  sought  out  for  the  crimes  you  have  already  com- 
mitted/' said  the  girl,  half-pla3^fully.  "T  much  wish  you  could 
have  received  this  intimation  from  others/'  she  continued, 
after  a  pause;  "but  as  you  might  not,  and  as  I  have  ventured, 
perhaps,  unadvisedly,  to  give  it,  I  know  not  but  you  have  a 
just  right  to  require  the  name.  It  is  Sherwood — one  Jacob 
Sherwood." 

"Sherwood!"   said   Warrington   in  utter  surprise,   "Sher- 


THE    GREEN    MOUNTAIN    BOYS.  119 

wood,  that  then  explains  several  things  that  to  me  were  mys- 
teries. Sherwood !''  he  repeated,  musing,  and  speaking  as  if 
to  himself,  ^'yes,  I  know  the  man,  and  the  heart  of  the  man. 
But  is  it  possible,  with  Sherwood  for  a  rival,  and  Alma  Hen- 
dee  the  object,  that  she  for  him  would" — 

"Trespasser!"  exclaimed  the  other,  shaking  her  head  with  a 
look  in  which  menace  and  roguishness  were  quietly  blended, 
"trespasser  beware!" 

"Cruel!  cruel!  I  must  not  then  even  ask  if  there  is  hope, 
even  one  ray  of  hope,  in  the  future!"  rejoined  Warrington, 
with  the  air  of  tender  reproach. 

"Oh,  how  can  you  ask" — replied  Alma,  her  countenance 
now  changing  to  a  serious,  even  a  sad  expression,  "how  can 
you  ask,  or  expect  this,  when  I  see  no  hope  for  myself?  And 
how  can  you  think  of  entering  into  a  discussion  so  useless, 
at  such  a  moment  as  this?     Go,  go!" 

When  Warrington,  at  the  close  of  the  interview  above  de- 
scribed, entered  the  room  of  the  revelers,  he  found  them  at 
the  height  of  their  boisterous  carousals.  The  health  of  every 
known  potentate  on  the  earth,  and  some  under  it,  was  j^ro- 
posed  and  drank,  by  the  huge  stranger,  now  the  undisputed 
master  of  the  ceremonies,  who  at  each  rapidly  succeeding  toast, 
tossed  off  his  glass  with  as  little  apparent  regard  to  its  effect 
on  himself,  as  if  the  beverage  had  been  water — such,  at  least, 
was  there  every  appearance  of  his  doing:  For  he  always 
lifted  a  full  glass  to  his  lips,  and  returned  it  empty  to  the 
table,  while  he  made  this  his  boast  on  urging  the  same  on' 
his  companions  of  the  revel,  all  of  whom,  with  the  excep- 
tion of  Darrow,  seemed  little  disposed  to  refuse  a  compliance. 
The  latter,  however^  after  drinking  a  few  stinted  glasses,  con- 
trived constantly  to  evade  a  repetition  which  would  unfit  him 
for  the  enterprise,  that  he,  at  least,  had  by  no  means  lost 
sight  of;  while  it  was  with  increasing  uneasiness  that  he  per- 
ceived the  fearful  inroads  which  the  liquor  was  making  on 
the  faculties  of  his  men.  This,  however,  might  not  have 
alarmed  the  wary  sergeant,  had  both  of  his  intended  victims 
been  in  the  same  condition;  since  so  long  as  they  drank  as 
freely  as  the  rest,  the  difficulty  of  their  seizure,  he  knew,  would 
be  diminished  in  the  same  proportion  with  the  powers  of 
the  men,  upon  whom  he  depended  for  its  accomplishment. 
But  Warrington,  he  soon  noticed,  though  mingling  ga3dy  with 
the  rest  at  the  board,  seemed  inclined,  like  himself,  to  drink 


120  THE    GREEN    MOUNTAIN   BOYS. 

but  lightly,  making  the  excuse  when  urged  to  take  more,  that 
he  wished  to  keep  sober,  in  order  to  take  care  of  his  brother 
hunter,  who  seemed  in  a  fair  way  to  require  his  assistance. 
And  the  appearance  of  the  stranger,  indeed,  soon  well  con- 
firmed the  truth  of  the  observation.  His  wit  fast  grew  vapid; 
and  some  of  his  remarks  were  so  silly,  that  none  but  the  very 
drunkest  of  the  soldiers  would  join  him  in  the  maudlin  roar 
of  laughter  which  he  raised  at  each  of  his  efforts  to  be  witty. 
He  began  to  sway  to  and  fro,  and  his  huge  frame  to  totter  at 
every  step,  like  a  sapped  tov^er  about  to  fall  to  the  earth — all 
of  which  was  observed  by  Darrow  with  a  look  of  malicious 
satisfaction. 

Warrington  now  proposed  that  the  company  should  break 
up,  and  all  retire  for  the  night.  This  proposal  was  seconded, 
though  from  far  different  motives,  by  both  the.  Captain  and 
Darrow.  A  question,  however,  now  arose  in  regard  to  the 
accommodations  which  could  be  furnished  for  sleeping;  the 
Captain  stated  that  he  had  but  two  spare  beds,  which  might 
be  made  to  answer  for  four  of  the  company.  He  should  have  ^ 
been  extremely  happy  to  be  able  to  accommodate  all  his  guests  | 
with  beds;  but  as  it  was,  they  must  agree  among  themselves 
who  should  occupy  those  he  could  furnish.  The  sergeant  im- 
mediately proposed,  that  Warrington,  and  his  drunken  friend 
should  take  one  of  the  beds,  and  himself  and  one  of  his  men 
would  occupy  the  other,  while  the  rest  should  seek  lodgings 
in  the  barn.  At  this  moment,  the  drunken  outlaw,  roused 
from  the  stupor  into  which  he  seemed  to  have  fallen  during 
the  discussion,  so  far  as  to  appear  conscious  of  the  point  of 
debate,  and  hiccuping  at  every  word,  swore  with  a  big  oath, 
"that  his  military  friends  should  have  the  best — they  should 
have  both  the  beds,  or  he  would  fight  them  like  h — 1.  And 
that  other  scurvy  hunter,  who  was  not  man  enough  to  drink 
like  a  gentleman,  should  go  to  the  barn  with  him,  and  sleep 
on  the  hay,  or  he  would  fight  him  too,  and  be  d — d  to  him." 

To  this  Darrow,  for  some  reasons  of  his  own,  strenuously 
objected,  and  the  debate  was  growing  warm,  when  Miss  Hen- 
dee  entered  the  room,  and  after  asking  the  cause  of  their  dis- 
pute and  looking  a  moment  with  an  air  of  disgust  at  the  now 
helpless  stranger,  earnestly  begged  of  her  father  to  let  the 
creature  have  his  way,  and  by  no  means  suffer  him  to  occupy 
a  bed  in  the  house. 

"I  think,   Captain  Hen  doe,"  remarked   Wa^'ington,  now 


THE    GREEN    MOUNTAIN    BOYS.  121 

for  the  first  time  ofliering  an  opinion,  ^Hhat  the  man's  notions, 
as  bad  off  as  he  appears  to  be,  are  correct.  He  will  prob- 
ably keep  the  honse  in  an  uproar  half  the  night,  if  he  remains. 
It  is  more  suitable,  I  think,  that  he  should  be  taken  to  the 
barn.     And  it  is  my  duty,  I  suppose,  to  attend  him." 

"I  by  no  means  intended  to  exclude  you  in  my  prohibition, 
sir,"  said  Alma,  addressing  Warrington. 

'^Oh,  no,  certainly  not,  I  presume.  But  I  think  I  ought 
to  go  with  him,"  rejoined  Warrington.  "And  a  bed  of  hay," 
he  added  gayly,  "is  far  better  than  has  sometimes  fallen  to 
my  lot." 

"'IIo.y!  there.  Cap — Cap — Cap  ting!"  stammered  out  the 
stranger,  lifting  his  head,  though  nearly  falling  out  of  his 
chair  at  the  effort;  "say,  you  Cap — Capting  Handy,  Hindy — 
dev — divil  knows  what,  take  good  care — care  my  rifle — cost 
ten  pounds — king^s  lawful  cur — cur — curren — cyation, — God 
d n — bless  him!" 

"And  of  mine  too,  captain,  if  you  will.  A¥e  will  leave 
them  in  the  house  till  morning,  with  your  permission,"  ob- 
served Warrington,  exchanging  a  significant  glance  with  Miss 
Hendee. 

Darrow,  who  till  now  had  manifested  a  determination  that 
our  two  outlaws  should  remain  in  the  house  with  him,  on 
hearing  that  the  valuable  rifles  were  to  be  left  behind,  seemed 
no  longer  to  entertain  any  suspicion  of  the  arrangement  last 
proposed,  and  conceded  the  point  without  further  objection. 

Captain  Hendee  then  ordered  Neshobee  to  take  the  rifles 
into  the  next  room,  alid  pointing  out  the  beds  to  be  occupied 
by  Darrow  and  his  men,  took  leave  of  his  guests  for  the  night, 
and  with  his  daughter  retired  to  the  other  part  of  the  house. 
Everything  being  now  settled  to  the  apparent  satisfaction  of 
all  parties,  it  only  remained  to  get  the  helpless  and  unwieldy 
outlaw  to  his  lodging  in  the  barn.  And  Darrow  and  his  men 
all  declaring  that  they  would  by  no  means  consent  to  quit 
their  generous  entertainer  till  they  had  seen  him  safely  dis- 
posed of  for  the  night,  Warrington  and  the  soberest  soldiers 
to  be  found  in  the  company,  now  assisted  him  in  getting 
on  his  feet,  and  bracing  out  his  legs  so  that  he  could  be  kept 
from  dropping  on  the  floor.  When  this,  with  considerable 
difficulty  and  no  little  noise  and  merriment,  had  been  effected, 
they  planted  themselves  firmly  under  each  arm,  and  at  the 
word  of  command,  sportively  given  by  one  of  the  company, 


122  THE   GREEN   MOUNTAIN   BOYS. 

trundled,  or  rather  pu-shed  his  huge  and  staggering  carcass 
forward  toward  the  barn,  attended  by  the  whole  company, 
reeling,  jostling  and  shouting  along  by  his  side.  After  they 
had  arrived  there,  and  succeeded  in  getting  their  charge  over 
the  threshold,  they  unceremoniously  tumbled  him  on  a  pile 
of  hay  on  the  barn  floor;  when,  after  exchanging  mock  cere- 
monies of  parting  politeness,  Darrow  and  all  his  men,  now 
feeling  sure  of  an  easy  and  safe  capture  as  soon  as  their  in- 
tended victims  were  asleep,  departed  for  the  house. 

"Charles!"  said  the  big  outlaw,  raising  himself  on  his  el- 
bow, as  soon  as  the  sounds  of  the  receding  footsteps  of  the 
soldiers  had  died  away,  "Charles!''  he  repeated,  in  a  low, 
though  perfectly  sober  tone,  "you  creep  carefully  round  to 
those  side  windows,  and  see  if  some  of  these  curses  ain't  still 
lurldng  round  the  barn  to  watch  us." 

The  other  silently  complying,  soon  returned,  and  reported 
that  no  one  was  visible. 

"Well  now,  Charles,"  resumed  the  first  speaker,  "you  get 
dov/n  there  at  my  feet,  and  see  if  you  can  pull  off  my  plaguy 
old  boots.  There  is  more  than  a  quart  of  rum  in  them.  I 
can  neither  run  nor  fight  worth  a  copper  with  my  feet  in  such 
a  devil's  pickle." 

"Upon  my  word.  Colonel!"  said  Warrington,  while  com- 
phdng  with  the  request  just  made,  "you  would  make  no  slouch 
of  a  juggler.  I  saw  no  chance  of  succeeding  in  any  way  short 
of  drinking  or  openly  refusing.  And  I  was  not  a  little  puz- 
zled to  decide  whether  you  w^ere  stark  mad  in  taking  such 
quantities  of  liquor,  or  whether  you  had  some  way  of  other- 
wise disposing  of  it,  which  I  could  not  detect.  Indeed,  for  the 
last  half  hour  I  have  been  perfectly  at  a  loss  to  know  whether 
you  were  drunk  or  sober.  How  did-  you  contrive  to  cheat 
them  so  cleverly?" 

"Buttoned  up  m}^  high  collared  coat,  so  as  to  come  up  over 
my  chin,  at  the  outset.  Then  minding  to  stand  so  as  to  admit 
no  side  views  to  that  hawk-eyed  sergeant,  or  the  others,  till 
they  were  too  far  gone  to  see  straight,  I  dashed  every  glass 
down  my  bosom.  'Not  a  spoonful  has  gone  down  my  throat 
to-night!  so  help  me  Peter!  who  never  lied  but  three  times, 
as  I  recollect.  But  come,  we  m.ust  be  thinking  of  something 
else  now.  And  the  first  question  to  be  settled  is,  whether  we 
shall  go  oft'  without  our  rifles,  and  perhajDS  lose  them  entirely, 


THE    GREEN   MOUNTAIN   BOYS.  123 

or  whether  we  shall  hatch  up  some  scheme  to  get  them  out 
of  the  house  ?^^ 

"I  have  strong  hope,  though  I  may  he  disappointed/'  said 
the  other  in  reply,  '^that  we  shall  soon  get  hold  of  them 
through  other  agency  than  our  own.  I  think  we  had  better 
venture  on  remaining  here  a  few  minutes  longer  to  wait  the 
result  of  an  effort  which,  I  feel  quite  confident,  will  he  made 
for  this  purpose." 

"Aha,  Charley? — been  ploughing  with  the  Captain's  heifer, 
hey!  Well,  we  will  wait  a  little.  Yes,  yes,  I  see  now  what  the 
sly  jade  was  at,  when  she  set  in  so  plausibly  to  have  "the 
loathsome  creature"  carried  off  to  the  barn.  And,  indeed, 
Charles,  I  suspected,  soon  after  I  arrived,  that  you  were  in 
for  it  there.  But  how  in  the  name  of  Cupid,  and  Hymen, 
and  Venus,  and  all  that  sort  of  heathen  cattle,  did  you  hap- 
pen to  pounce  upon  such  a  superb  piece  of  housel  stuff?  I 
thougjht  you  never  strayed  so  far  down  here  to  the  land's 
end?" 

Warrington  then  related  to  his  companion  all  the  cir- 
cumstances connected  with  his  acquaintance  with  the  differ- 
ent members  of  the  Hendee  family,  his  late  discovery  relative 
to  his  ownership  of  the  land,  and  the  course  which  he  had, 
and  still  intended  to  pursue  in  that  respect,  without  revealing, 
however,  the  uncertain  and  somewhat  peculiar  attitude  in 
which  he  stood  with  the  daughter. 

"Right  nobly  sai<i  and  done!"  exclaimed  the  other,  who 
had  listened  with  the  appearance  of  much  interest  to  the  re- 
cital, and  who  seemed  highly  to  appreciate  the  delicate  gen- 
erosity of  Warrington,  "nobW,  indeed,  though  with  a  higher 
touch  of  the  chivalrous,  I  fear,  my  dear  fellow,  than  you  would 
often  find  reciprocated  in  this  wooden  age  and  country.  How- 
ever, you  will  one  of  these  days  be  rewarded,  I  suppose,  by 
receiving  the  same  lands,  and  an  article  with  them  that  will 
richly  pay  you  for  your  forbearance:  for  by  all  the  saints, 
from  Saint  Paul  down  to  ragged  Saint  Patrick,  I  swear  that 
if  there  be  any  angels  of  clay — that,  though,  is  nonsense  for  a 
married  man.  But  seriously,  Charles,  I  don't  know  when  I 
have  seen  the  like  of  that  girl!  A  form  and  face,  the  mould 
of  which,  I  think,  must  have  been  broken  with  but  one  cast 
— eyes  with  the  rich  and  lustrous  hue  of  good  old  indigo, 
though  pnre  ^i>d  clear  ^s  the  luudless  crystal  to  fte  yerj 


124  THE    GREEN   MOUNTAIN   BOYS. 

deiDths  of  the  soul  be^^ond  them.     And  then  her  smile,  Charles 
— enough  to  craze  an  anchorite,  by  heavens  !^^ 

"Eeally,  Colonel,"  rejoined  Warrington,  jocosely,  ^^yon 
vv'onld  make  me  jealous  if  I  had  but  a  tithe  of  the  title  to  the 
girl  that  yon  seem  to  suppose.  She  is  engaged,  man,  to  one 
Sherwood,  the  very  fellow,  as  I  this  night  ascertained  from 
her  own  lips,  whom  we  caught  and  beech-sealed  for  a  spy 
and  traitor^  on  our  way  down  the  Creek,  and  to  whom,  doubt- 
less, we  are  indebted  for  this  concerted  plan  for  our  seizure.'^ 

"I  heard  of  your  doings  with  that  scoundrel,  as  I  came 
along  a  day  or  two  after.  And  the  only  fault  I  find  about  it 
is,  that  you  did  not  string  him  up,  according  to  the  decree  of 
convention,  in  such  case  made  and  provided.  But  can  it  be 
possible,  Charles,  that  God  ever  made  this  girl  for  such  a  fel- 
low? I  swear,  I  don^t  believe  it!  And  if  there  is  not  enough 
of  vou  to  set  him  aside" — 

''''^Well,  what  thenP^ 

"Why,  you  don^t  deserve  her,  that's  all — but  whist!  I 
thought  I  heard  a  footstep.     See  to  your  pistols,  Charles !'' 

"All  handy,  Colonel.  But  what  is  your  plan  if  they  beset 
us  here  T^ 

"Why,  fight  'em,  most  likely,  I  think, — a  d — n  poor  story  if 
we  two  ain't  a  match  for  those  four  half  fuddled  devils!" 

"Certainly,  but  there  were  nearl}^,  or  quite  as  many  more, 
posted  round  the  house  in  ambush,  or  my  ears  deceived  me 
sadly.", 

"No,  were  there?" 

"Yes,  I  am  positive.  Colonel." 

"Well,  well,  Charles,  the  trifling  addition  of  three  or  four 
more  of  them  ain't  worth  standing  about.  But  hush  again!" 
continued  the  speaker,  his  voice  sinking  to  a  whisper,  "I  was 
right:  I  just  caught  the  glimpse  of  a  head  peering  in  at  that 
side  door." 

The  senses  of  the  big  outlaw  had  not  deceived  him.  And 
the  object  of  his  suspicion  now  appeared  several  times  before 
the  partly  opened  door;  though  at  each  time  suddenly,  and 
for  a  moment  withdrawn.  At  length  the  door  was  cautiously 
opened  considerably  wider,  and  the  questionable  head  thrust 
fairly  in,  where  it  remained  stationary  as  a  block  for  a  full 
minute. 

"Umph!'^  at  length  uttered  the  object,  in  a  low,  but  distinct 
tone. 


THE    GREEN    MOUNTAIN    BOYS.  125 

^^All  right,"  said  Warrington,  "it  is  Neshobee,  as  I  ex- 
pected. 

"Umph!  me  come — got  um  your  rifles/'  said  the  latter, 
noiselessly  advancing,  and  handing  the  guns  to  each  of  their 
respective  owners. 

''You  have  done  us  no  fool  of  a  favor,  my  fine  fellow,''  said 
the  elder  Green  Mountain  Boy.  ''"How  did  you  get  the  guns 
out  of  the  house?" 

"Missus  Alma  contrive  um  all,"  replied  the  Indian.  "She 
put  um  out  her  sleep-room  window" — then  say  it — so  me  go 
bring  um." 

"A  glorious  girl,  that,  by  Juj)iter!"  resumed  the  former. 
"You  and  she  both,  my  red  friend,  deserve  a  pension  at  our 
hands.     Here,  take  hold  of  this  crown  23iece,  to  begin  upon." 

"Him  good!  Cappen,  him  good  afore,"  said  the  native, 
taking  the  proffered  coin. 

"And  I  will  try  to  continue  so,"  said  Warrington,  thrust- 
ing another  crov/n  into  the  Indian's  ready  hand.  "But  any- 
thing more,  Neshobee?"  he  continued,  judging  from  the  oth- 
er's manner,  that  he  had  something  further  to  impart. 

"Missus  Alma  say  me  tell  um  go — say  the  rest  sogers  come 
in  house  now,  drink  more  rum  again — say,  go  straight,  quick, 
better — no  stay  minute." 

"Good  advice,  too,"  said  the  big  outlaw,  "and  let  us  lose 
no  time  in  following  it.     Charles,  lead  the  way!" 

Cautiously  emerging  from  the  barn,  and  clearing  the  yard 
fence,  our  two  friends  now  proceeded,  with  silent  but  rapid 
steps,  through  the  open  field,  till  they  gained  a  knoll  about 
sixty  rods  from  the  house,  when  the  nameless  outlaw  paused 
and  looked  back. 

"Clear  of  the  rascals  at  last,  I  believe,"  observed  Warring- 
ton. 

The  other  made  no  reply,  but  stood  as  if  debating  some 
point  in  his  mind,  which  he  was  unable  to  decide. 

"Well,  which  way  now,  Colonel?"  resumed  the  former, 
thinking  his  companion  might  be  hesitating  about  the  route 
they  should  take. 

"Get  thee  behind  me,  Satan!"  at  length  exclaimed  the  oth- 
er, violently  dashing  back  both  his  hands.  "Give  me  joy, 
Charles,"  he  added,  without  paying  the  least  attention  to  the 
question  that  had  just  been  asked  him,  "give  me  joy,  for  I 
have  conquered." 


126  THE    GREEN    MOUNTAIN    BOYS. 

^^Indeedj  sir,  it  is  quite  impossible  for  me  to  eompreliend 

"''Not  comiDrehend  me!  Oh,  true,  how  should  you?  It  only 
passed  through  my  mind.  Well,  Charles,  I  have  been  sorely 
tempted — ^never  so  tempted  in  my  life/' 

''About  what,  pray?"' 

''Why,  about  going  over  and  taking  yonder  fort  to-night. 
According  to  your  account  of  the  numbers  now  on  this  side, 
there  cannot  be  over  ten  or  a  dozen  left  in  the  garrison.  You 
and  I  could  have  taken  their  boat  here,  while  they  were  wait- 
ing for  us  to  get  to  sleep,  slipped  over,  and  made  the  at- 
tempt. I  think  we  could  carry  it.  i^nd,  ah!''  continued  the 
speaker,  rubbing  his  hands  in  ecstasy,  "there  would  have  been 
glory,  glory  in  itt,  Charles!  But  duty  forbade;  for  a  failure 
certainly,  and  success,  probably,  would  have  defeated  an  ob- 
ject of  two-fold  importance  to  the  country.  And  conscience 
told  me  I  should  forego  my  private  wishes  for  public  good. 
That  object,  as  stone  walls  have  ears,  they  say,  I  will  not 
name  here.  But  it  was  that  which  brought  me  into  this 
section.  Plendee's  situation  here,  so  near  one  of  the  enemy's 
strongholds,  made  it  important  that  his  feelings  should  be 
known.  And  it  was  for  that  purpose  I  called  to-night,  when 
I  unexpectedly  found  you.  I  intended  to  have  been  at  half 
a  dozen  other  places  before  this,  and  I  should,  but  for  this 
cursed  bother  with  these  minions  of  hell  and  I^ew  York.  We 
will  now  on  to  your  encampment.  I  called  there  at  sunset. 
Your  lieutenant  had  returned.  The  party  sent  to  seize  the 
surveyor  had  just  been  heard  from,  and  were  expected  to  ar- 
rive with  their  prisoner  to-night.  He  must  be  tried  and  dis- 
23osed  of  in  a  hurry.  But  have  you  made  any  further  dis- 
coveries about  the  York  justice  in  this  section?" 

"I  have  ascertained  his  residence,  and  discovered  the  bear- 
ing of  his  feeling  towards  the  enemy — nothing  further." 

"Enough!  I  have  received,  since  we  parted,  papers  which 
settle  the  case.  We  must  have  him  up,  and  do  off  all  this 
York  business  in  a  batch  in  the  morning;  for  there  is  much 
to  be  done  to-morrow,  in  preparation  of  a  general  meeting  of 
the  trusty  to-morrow  night,  in  the  vicinity  of  the  Middle  Falls. 
Ah!  Charles,  there  is  something  afoot,  to  which  this  petty 
vrarfare  we  have  been  engaged  in  with  New  York,  is  as  a 
rush-]ight  to  the  meridian  sun!  I  burn  to  be  in  it;  for  it  will 
be  great,  daring,  and  glorious!" 


THE    GREEN    MOUNTAIN    BOYS.  127 

Leaving  our  two  Green  Mountain  Boys  to  proceed  to  their 
present  destination^  with  hearts  swelling  at  the  thought  of  the 
future,  and  somewhat  elated  withal  at  their  fortunate  escape 
from  a  danger  of  certainly  no  small  magnitude,  when  the 
vicinage  of  the  fort,  and  the  small  chance  of  a  rescue  are 
considered,  we  will  return  for  a  moment  to  the  company  we 
left  at  the  house.  It  would  be  difficult  to  describe  the  rage 
and  chagrin  of  Darrow,  and  his  men,  when,  after  waiting  till 
they  supposed  their  two  intended  victims  were  helpless  in 
sleep,,  they  proceeded  stealthily,  and  with  undoubting  assur- 
ance of  an  easy  victory,  to  the  barn,  and  discovered  that  their 
birds  were  both  flown.  They  saw  at  once  that  they  had  been 
fairly  outwitted  by  the  wily  outlaws.  Solacing  themselves, 
however,  with  a  promise  of  seizing  the  fugitives  another  day, 
they  gave  up  the  project  for  the  present,  well  knowing  that 
any  attempt  at  pursuit  w^ould  now  be  utterly  useless.  And  at 
the  command  of  Darrow,  who  kept  his  future  purposes,  what- 
ever they  might  be,  to  himself,  they  all  silently  w^ithdrew  from 
the  house,  and  immediately  crossed  over  to  the  fort. 


CHAPTER  XII. 


'They  came  not  from  the  head,  it  was  the  heart  that  wrote  them." 


The  next  morning,  after  the  affair  at  the  Lower  Falls,  be- 
tween our  Clreen  Mountain  Boys  and  the  hired  minions  of 
Colonel  Reed,  a  separation,  as  the  reader  will  readily  remem- 
ber, took  place  among  the  former,  the  several  individuals  who 
had  occupied  a"  conspicuous  place  in  our  story,  departing  in 
different  directions,  and  with  objects  as  diverse  as  their  various 
destinations.  Some  of  these  individuals,  still  designed  to  sus- 
tain a  close  connection  with  the  events  we  have  undertaken  to 
delineate,  have  been  neglected  through  several  of  our  last 
chapters,  in  order  to  preserve,  as  unbroken  as  possible,  the 
chain  of  the  leading  part  of  the  narrative,  in  several  scenes 
we  had  commenced,  so  nearl}^  connected  as  to  render  a  break 
alike  disagreeable  to  both  reader  and  writer.     But  being  al- 

9 


128  THE    GREEN    MOUNTAIN    BOYS. 

lowed  a  short  respite  before  following  those  with  whom  we 
have  just  parted^  w^e  now  hasten  to  bestow,  in  the  first  place, 
some  attention  on  our  friend  Selden,  and  his  new  charge,  the 
volatile,  but  not  ungifted  Jessy  Eeed,  by  following  them  to 
the  destination,  for  which  they  were  on  the  point  of  em- 
barking when  we  left  them.  This  was  at  Skenesboro',  near 
the  south  end  of  the  lake,  so  called  from  the  name  of  the  pro- 
prietor of  a  large  body  of  land  at  this  place, — Colonel  Skene, 
who,  being  not  only  a  wealthy  landholder,  but  the  comman- 
der of  one  of  the  king's  regiments,  had  here  constructed  a 
large,  strong,  stone  house,  and  made  it  a  sort  of  military  post, 
as  well  as  the  residence  of  his  family  and  various  dependents. 
The  whole  of  this  curious  establishment^  not  a  little  re- 
sembling that  of  one  of  the  ancient  feudal  lords,  was,  at 
this  time,  under  the  command  of  Major  Skene,  a'  son  of  the 
proprietor,  the  father  having  been  some  months  absent,  en- 
gaged in  negotiating  for  his  own  aggrandizement  at  the  Brit- 
ish court.  It  was -to  this  place  that  Miss  Eeed  had  so  fear- 
lessly undertaken  a  voyage  in  an  open  skiff,  with  one  oarsman, 
and  Selden,  her  volunteer  knight  attendant.  But  a  descrip- 
tion of  this  voyage,  together  with  many  circumstances  which 
preceded  it,  we  will  now,  agreeably  to  a  previous  intimation, 
allow  the  fair  voyager  to  give  in  her  own  language.  And  for 
this  purpose  we  present  the  following  letter,  sent  by  her 
a  few  days  after  her  arrival  at  Skenesboro',  and  received  on 
the  morning  following  the  events  recorded  in  the  last  chap- 
ter:— 

"To  Miss  Alma  Hendee — 

"I  have  most  serious  doubts,  my  dear  Alma,  whether  I  am 
exactly  myself.  And  should  you  be  equally  dubious,  as  I 
expect  you  will,  when  you  have  perused  all  that  I  shall  now, 
under  the  rose,  impart,  you  may  set  it  down,  if  you  please, 
as  the  relation  of  a  pretty  dream  which  has  passed  through 
the  brain  of  Philip  Skene's  half-courted  high-flyer,  while  doz- 
ing under  the  soporific  thoughts  of  a  matter  of  course,  all 
very  suitable  sort  of  a  match,  with  his  grave  and  calculating 
majorship.  One  thing,  however,  I  imagine,  is  certain;  and 
that  is.  that  I  am  here  at  Skenesboro',  snugly  immured  in  the 
^lajor's  stone  castle.  And  why  I  am  so  positive  of  this  is, 
that  I  feel  so  sleepy,  and  have  felt  so  ever  since  he  left  us. 
He!  who?     iVh!  that  sets  me  afloat  again!     But  I  will  begin 


THE    GREEN   MOUNTAIN    BOYS.  129 

at  the  beginning;  and  dream,  or  no  dream,  you  shall  have 
the  whole  of  my  adventures  with  (now  be  making  up  your 
mind  for  interjections!)  those  horrid,  brave,  dear,  ugly  Green 
Mountain  Boys. 

"Accompanying  my  father  from  Montreal,  with  my  half  In- 
dian girl,  Zilpah  Wampum,  under  the  arrangement  that  we 
should  be  left,  and  stationed  at  Skenesboro^  during  his  con- 
templated sojourn  of  some  time  in  the  city  of  New  York,  I 
besought  him  right  earnestly  on  the  way  to  let  me  go  with 
him  to  visit  his  possessions  up  Otter  Creek,  to  which  he  in- 
tended to  return  for  a  day  after  landing  us  at  the  Major^s. 
After  a  few  of  those  not  very  alarming  affairs,  pshaws!  pishes! 
etc.,  I  carried  my  point,  as  I  generally  do,  with  my,  I  fear, 
too  indulgent  parent.  And  what  was  still  a  greater  victory, 
and  certainly  much  harder  to  be  won,  I  prevailed  upon  him 
at  last  to  let  us  remain  there  for  a  few  days  after  he  had  pro- 
ceeded on  his  journey,  under  the  condition  that  I  should  take 
a  very  fair,  warm,  and  very  calm  day  within  a  week  at  far- 
thest, and  with  our  best  boat,  and  two  of  our  most  careful  men 
there,  proceed  to  our  original  destination. 

"Well,  there  we  remained  at  that  wild,  romantic  place, 
happy  as  larks,  by  day  rambling  round  the  fields  for  flowers, 
skirting  the  woods  for  spruce  gum,  boxberries,  and  birds' 
nests,  and  at  night,  listening  to  the  adventures  of  the  men, 
or  quizzing  the  honest  old  Mcintosh,  the  commander  of  the 
post,  as  he  calls  himself — there  we  remained,  I  saj,  till  the 
fourth  day  after  father  had  left  us,  when,  who  should  make  his 
appearance,  but  that  "plausible  and  oily-tongued  beau  of  yours, 
Jacob  Sherwood,  announcing  that  a  band  of  Green  Mountain 
Boys,  headed  by  Warrington,  the  outlaw,  was  in  full  march 
to  lay  waste,  burn,  and  destroy  our  possessions,  and  murder 
every  soul  to  be  found  on  the  premises,  or  at  least  to  carry  us 
oft'  as  captives  to  their  dens  in  the  mountains!  My  heart  beat 
like  a  young  drummer!  And  as  for  Zilpah,  though  mute  as 
a  fish,  her  complexion  wonderfully  improved  about  that  time, 
I  assure  you.  However,  being  a  soldier's  daughter,  as  well 
as  yourself,  I  soon  made  up  my  mind  not  to  die  of  fright,  at 
least;  so  I  flew  round,  helped  the  men  to  make  cartridges, 
and  whatever  else  I  could  do,  in  preparation  for  the  expected 
visit.  Sherwood  was  invited  to  aid  in  putting  the  garrison 
in  a  state  of  defense,  and  remain  with  us  through  the  coming 
siege.    But  oh,  no!  he  couldn't  possibly!     He  must  be  off  to 


130  THE    GREEN    MOUNTAIN    BOYS. 

tlie  woods  to  watch  the  enemy's  approach,  and  give  ns  signal 
guns  when  they  arrived  at  the  clearing.  Well,  after  the  whole 
establishment  had  resounded  with  the  din  of  preparation 
about  an  hour,  and  everything  was  prepared  for  their  recep- 
tion, Mcintosh  called  us  together,  women  and  all,  for  a  coun- 
cil of  war,  to  hear  the  different  plans  that  might  be  offered 
as  to  the  best  mode  of  conducting  the  defense,  though  dog- 
gedly determined  all  the  while,  that  none  but  his  own  should 
be  adopted.  And  what  think  you  that  was?  Wh}^,  that  all 
the  men  should  take  the  field  against  the  enemy,  and  fight 
their  way  back,  under  cover  of  log-heaps,  to  the  works,  leaving 
us,  poor  women,  entirely  alone,  to  unbar  the  gate  to  receive 
them,  when  they  should  reach  it  and  give  the  watch-word. 
This  sage  plan  of  operations,  as  you  may  well  suppose,  did 
not  at  all  strike  my  fancy.  But  finding  opposition  useless, 
I  submitted  with  the  best  grace  I  could,  demanding,  however, 
as  the  terms  of  my  compliance,  that  they  should  leave  me  a 
good  musket  (a  Major's  wife  at  one  of  our  stations,  some  years 
ago,  having  taught  me  how  to  load  and  fire  one),  for  our  de- 
fense, in  case  I  should  have  occasion  to  use  it.  This  settled, 
Mcintosh  marshaled  his  men,  sallied  out,  and  lay  in  ambush 
till  the  enemy  appeared,  M^hen  a  battle  commenced  in  which 
powder  enough  was  burnt  to  have  slain  a  regiment,  though, 
strange  to  tell,  not  one  drop  of  blood  was  spilled  on  either 
side. 

^^JN'ow  comes  my  part  of  this  queer  drama.  While  I  stood 
at  the  gate  listening,  with  palpitating  heart,  to  the  thunders 
of  the  musketry  in  the  field,  and  anxiousl}^  awaiting  the  signal 
to  open  to  our  men,  I  heard  steps  outside  the  enclosure,  which 
I  knew  could  not  proceed  from  any  of  our  party.  Almost 
desperate  with  fear,  I  seized  the  loaded  gun  which  had  been 
left  for  me,  and  stood  on  the  defensive,  while  poor  Zilpah. 
still  worse  frightened,  fled  into  the  house.  All  for  a  few 
moments  was  quiet,  when  happening  to  look  round,  I  beheld, 
to  my  utter  surprise  and  consternation,  one  of  the  enemy  ap- 
proaching me,  three  of  them,  it  seems,  having  already  scaled 
the  walls  behind  the  house.  Heaven  forgive  me!  in  the  des- 
peration of  the  moment  I  fired  my  gun  at  him,  though,  thanks 
to  the  same  heaven,  without  hitting  him.  He  proved  to  be 
the  lieutenant  of  Warrington,  who  now,  with  the  other  man, 
rushed  forward  from  behind  the  house,  when  all  stood  con- 
fronting me,    But  what  do  you  think  they  did?    Seize  nae 


THE    GREEN   MOUNTAIN    BOYS.  l3l 

like  ruffians^  as  from  Sherwood's  tale  of  tlie  horribles,  I  ex- 
pected? ISTo,  they  came  for\Yard,  and  in  the  most  mild  and 
gentlemanl}^  manner,  advised,  nay  entreated  me  to  retire  into 
the  house,  to  which  I  noAv  suffered  myself  to  be  conducted  by 
Lieutenant  Selden,  who  had  just  providentially  escaped  death 
by  my  hand!  I  think  I  must  have  appeared  like  a  fool.  I 
certainly  felt  like  one. 

^'1  need  not  inform  you  that  our  men  now  soon  surren- 
dered to  the  Green  Mountain  Boys,  who  took  possession, 
claiming,  however,  none  of  the  movables,  and  asking  only 
that  the  men  should  leave  the  place  the  next  day.  The  treat- 
ment I  received,  and  the  explanations  given  me  by  Vfarring- 
ton  (who,  by  the  way,  is  a  noble  looking  fellow;  Alma,  I  wish 
you  could  see  him),  in  regard  to  this  war  about  titles,  soon 
overset  all  my  preconceived  opinions  of  the  Green  Mountain 
Boys.  Indeed,  if  we  can  rely  on  their  statements,  I  hardh/ 
know  how  our  people  can  be  justified  in  driving  these  poor 
settlers  from  their  farms. 

"But  what  shall  I  sav  of  him — Mr.  Selden,  I  mean?  Who 
would  credit — I  would  not  a  week  ago,  I  am  sure — that,  after 
having  first  called  him  a  ruffian  and  monster  to  his  face,  as  I 
did  when  he  first  approached  me,  I  was  found  in  the  twilight 
of  the  same  evening,  rambling,  arm  in  arm,  with  the  hand- 
some, quizzical,  audacious  rogue,  along  the  freshly  flowered 
banks  of  the  Otter,  quoting  poetry  with  him,  or  listening  to 
the  better  poetry  of  his  own  brilliant  conceptions,  which  some- 
times flowed  from  4iis  lips  in  bursts  of  surpassing  eloquence, 
and  sometimes  in  sallies  of  wit,  so  original  and  irresistibly 
humorous,  that  I  would  defy  the  gravest  puritan  in  the  land 
to  keep  his  risibles  from  breaking  loose  on  the  occasion.  He 
volunteered  to  attend  me  to  Skenesboro',  the  next  day,  and 
I — -now  don't  susj^ect  me  of  being  captivated  with  the  fellow. 
Alma — I  accepted  the  offer — how  could  I  do  less.  Well, 
the  next  morning,  with  Zilpah,  bag  and  baggage — the  bag,  you 
will  say,  perhaps,  should  have  been  given  to  him — and  with 
one  of  his  father's  trusty  and  strong-armed  Highlanders  for  an 
oarsman,  we  shipped  aboard  boat,  and  proceeded  down  the 
Creek.  The  day  was  most  serenely  fair.  And  our  voyage 
to  the  mouth  of  the  stream,  as  we  glided  along  the  gently  flow- 
ing current  in  its  mxcandering  course,  was  indeed  delightful. 
The  forest-lined  banks  were  beautifully  frosted  with  the  white 
wood  violet,  or  blushing  with  beds  of  wild  tulips;  while  the 


132  THE    GREEN    MOUNTAIN    BOYS. 

budding  brandies  of  the  overhanging  trees  above,  seemed 
fairly  vivified  by  the  thousand  melodious  duets  that  were 
joyously  bursting  from  the  happy  little  hearts  of  these  min- 
strel lovers  of  the  grove. 

"After  we  had  reached  the  open  lake,  we  found  a  pretty 
breeze  blowing  freshly  from  the  westward.  And  the  gentle- 
man, fixing  up  a  blanket  for  a  sail,  our  little  craft  swept 
through  the  lake  right  merrily,  I  assure  you.  We  were  soon 
abreast  of  your  charming  situation.  And  I  could  hardly  con- 
sent to  pass  you  without  hauling  up  for  a  short  morning 
call;  but  the  men  urging  that  by  improving  the  breeze  we 
could  easily  reach  our  destination  by  night,  when  otherwise 
we  might  fail  of  so  doing,  I  reluctantly  agreed  to  forego  the 
pleasure  of  seeing  you,  and  introducing  my  Green  Mountain 
Phoenix — not  that  I  am  particularly  charmed  with  him  my- 
self, but  I  think  you  would  have  been  gratified  in  beholding 
so  rare  an  avis,  as  a  gentleman,  as  he  really  is,  from  so  wild 
and  savage  a  region  as  this  Green  Mountain  country. 

"xit  noon  we  dined  quite  romantically  from  off  the  middle 
seat  of  our  boat,  on  edibles  furnished  from  our  store  bas- 
ket, and  neatly  arranged  by  Zilpah.  I  never  partook  with 
greater  zest;  and  what  with  the  keenness  of  our  appetites, 
the  novelty  of  the  afi^air,  and  the  thousand  spicy  things  said 
on  the  occasion,  I  don't  believe  I  should  have  enjoyed  the 
banquet  of  a  princess  with  half  the  pleasure  that  I  did  this 
meal. 

'^After  we  had  taken  our  refreshment  and  again  got  under 
way,  for  we  had  run  into  a  little  cove,  beautifully  over-arched 
by  a  cluster  of  whispering  pines,  the  saucy  rogue  so  managed 
as  to  get  Zilpah  and  the  oarsman  into  one  part  of  the  boat, 
and  himself  and  your  humble  servant  "into  the  other,  with 
our  blanket  sail  forming  an  impenetrable  screen  between. 
Here,  after  sentimentalizing  and  poetizing  awhile  over  the 
ever  changing  views  of  scenery,  alternating  with  the  majestic 
and  beautiful,  as  we  rapidly  glided  by  them,  he  began  a  set 
of  compliments  so  very  pointed,  and  squinting  loveward,  but 
at  the  same  time  so  oddly  framed,  that  I  knew  not  whether 
to  laugh  cr  be  angry.  I  should  have  severely  chided  so  much 
boldness  in  a  stranger,  however,  on  one  or  two  occasions,  had 
not  the  provoking  creature,  carefully  watching  my  counte- 
nance, thrown  in  some  remark  that  gave  an  entirely  different 
turn  to  the  whole  meaning  of  what  he  had  begun  to  say.     So 


THE    GREEN    MOUNTAIN    BOYS.  133 

you  see.  Alma,  how  far  I  am  from  anything  Kke  the  tender 
passion  in  this  strangely  begun,  and  no  less  strangely  main- 
tained acquaintance. 

"The  remainder  of  our  voyage  was  now  mostly  occupied 
by  him  in  giving  me  a  history  of  his  life  as  far  as  he  knew  it 
himself,  relating  the  singular,  and  certainly  very  romantic 
adventures  through  which  he  passed,  from  his  childhood  to 
the  present  hour.  Having  neither  time  nor  space  to  detail 
them  now,  I  will  only  say  briefly,  that  he  was  born  somewhere 
in  New  England,  as  he  supposes,  for  he  neither  knows  his 
birthplace,  nor  the  name  of  his  parents.  But  by  some  means 
or  other  falling  into  mercenary  hands,  when  a  mere  child, 
he  was  sold  as  a  slave, — passed  through  several  hands,  and  at 
length  carried  over  the  waters, — taken  into  the  protection  of 
a  philanthropic  nobleman  in  England,  by  whom  he  was  lib- 
erally educated,  and  furnished  with  a  handsome  outfit  to 
purchase  a  commission  in  the  army,  or  seek  his  fortune  wher- 
ever he  could  find  it.  He  then,  after  wandering  awhile  in 
Europe,  obeyed  the  impulses  of  his  own  heart,  and  came  to 
visit  his  own  country;  when,  being  enamored  of  a  sylvan  life, 
and  thinking  he  should  enjoy  the  excitements  usually  to  be 
found  in  a  border  settlement,  he  soon  found  his  way  to  the 
ISTew  Hampshire  Grants,  and  enlisted  in  the  controversy, 
which  he  here  found  going  on  between  the  settlers  and  the 
New  Yorkers. 

"By  the  time  he  had  closed  this  very  interesting  and  de- 
lightfully told  autobiography,  we  hove  in  sight  of  the  castel- 
lated establishment  of  the  Skenes.  It  was  then,  almost  for 
the  first  time,  that  it  occurred  to  me,  that,  attended  as  I  was, 
my  meeting  with  the  family  must  be  an  extremely  awkward 
one,  since  the  feelings  of  the  Major,  as  well  as  those  of  his 
father,  the  Colonel,  are  known  to  be  hostile  to  the  Green 
Mountain  Boys,  and  I  could  not  forbear  hinting  this  to  Sel- 
den,  and  suggesting  at  the  same  time,  the  expediency  of  with- 
holding from  the  family,  till  he  had  gone,  all  knowledge  of 
the  late  affair  at  the  Falls,  or  his  passing  incog,  among  them. 

"  "^Oh,  no!'  w^as  the  prompt  reply,  ^mince  no  matters  on  my 
account,  fair  lady.  Having  made  my  peace  with  her  who  is 
most  interested,  and  obtained  an  absolution  for  my  ofi^enses — 
have  I  not?  at  least,'  he  continued,  with  a  tone  and  smile  so 
sweet,  so  tender,  and  yet  so  imploring,  that  I  found  my  head 
nodding  an  assent  before  I  knew  it,  ^at  least,  may  I  not  be 


134  THE    GREEN    MOUNTAIN    BOYS. 

permitted  to  hope  I  shall,  my  dear  IMiss  Eeed? — having  done 
this  they  must  be  singularly  disposed  indeed,  to  espouse  the 
quarrels  of  others  if  they  offer  me  any  personal  disrespect. 
'No,  no,  fear  it  not,  and  should  you  feel  disposed  to  counte- 
nance my  remaining  at  this  place  through  the  night,  I  shall 
gladly  risk  all  consequences  to  myself  from  so  doing.^ 

^^We  had  now  reached  the  landing,  and  in  a  moment  the 
inmates  of  the  house,  who  were  expecting  me  about  these 
days,  and  had  conjectured  who  we  were,  all  rushed  out,  and 
Marge  and  Mary  Skene,  with  their  brother,  came  flying  like 
two  paper  kites  with  a  lubberly  boy  at  their  tails,  down  to 
the  boat  to  receive  us.  I  don't  know  how  I  m.ade  my  tongue 
do  its  office  in  returning  their  salutations,  for  my  heart  cer- 
tainly leaped  right  up  plump  into  my  mouth,  and  I  cannot 
conceive  how  that  poor  little  member,  so  shamefully  belied 
in  our  sex,  could  have  possibly  found  room  to  wag!  It  did, 
however,  and  I  introduced  Mr.  Selden,  by  name,  to  them  all. 
The  girls,  I  thought,  seemed  rather  pleased  that  I  had  brought 
them  a  new  candidate  for  their  toils,  and  so  fine  a  looking 
fellow  into  the  bargain.  But  the  Major,  reckoning  on  the 
possibility,  I  suppose,  that  the  other  might  become  a  candi- 
date for  the  toils  of  somebody  besides  sisters,  looked  rather 
askew  at  my  gentleman,  nevertheless,  not  knovring  exactly 
vrhat  might  be  a  safe  conclusion  on  such  uncertain  premises, 
he  soon  brought  himself  to  behave  quite  decently,  and  escort- 
ed us  all  to  the  house  without  further  ado.  But  further  trials 
were  in  store  for  me;  for  Mr.  Selden,  as  soon  as  we  had  all 
got  comfortably  seated,  to  my  surprise,  broke  the  ice  at  once 
— and,  after  craving  their  attention  a  moment,  while  he  re- 
lieved Miss  Eeed,  as  he  said,  of  a  task  which  he  could  readily 
conceive  would  be  an  unpleasant  one  for  her  to  perform,  very 
cooty  related  the  whole  transaction  which  led  to  his  acquaint- 
ance with  me,  and  the  consequent  responsibility  that  devolved 
on  him  of  seeing  me  safe  to  my  friends. 

"1  felt,  though  I  can  scarcely  tell  why  I  should,  like  a  crim- 
inal, while  Mr.  Selden  was  making  this  development,  which, 
I  had  many  fears,  would  involve  his  personal  safety;  not- 
withstanding he  has  done  nothing,  as  yet,  he  tells  me,  that 
the  York  government  consider  worthy  of  death  or  bonds. 
All  seemed  much  surprised  at  what  they  heard,  and  in  the 
Major's  face — that  is,  as  soon  as  he  could  comprehend  the 
matter,  for  it  takes  an  idea  some  time,  you   know,   to   get' 


THE    GREEN    MOUNTAIN    BOYS.  135 

throiTgli  his  cranhim,  and  no  great  wonder,  neither,  consider- 
ing how  far  it  has  to  go — ^in  the  Major's  face  I  saw  evident 
signs  of  a  gathering  storm.  Bnt  knowing,  that  on  a  reason- 
able calculation,  Mr.  S.  might  count  on  two  days  at  least  be- 
fore a  cloud  engendering  in  so  cold  a  climate  would  become 
sufhciently  charged  to  be  dangerous,  I  did  not  feel  greatly 
alarmed,  and  especialh^  so  as  the  girls  seemed  disposed  to  laugh 
at  the  affair.  And  Marge,  on  Mr.  Selden's  playfully  pro- 
posing to  submit  himself  to  us  ladies  to  pass  sentence  for  his 
crimes,  quite  smartly  observed,  that  we  would  sentence  him 
to  an  imprisonment  of  a  week  in  their  stone  jug,  as  she  termed 
their  house,  and  be  let  out  to  attend  us  on  horseback  or  in  a 
boat  ride  each  day. 

''We  now  passed  the  remainder  of  the  evening  very  pleas- 
antly. And  for  the  next  two  days  we  almost  literally  inflicted 
on  Mr.  Selden  the  sentence  Vv^hich  had  been  so  queerly  im- 
posed. We  read,  walked,  sailed,  and  rode  alternately;  and 
a  right  merry  time  we  had  of  it,  I  assure  you — Mr.  Selden  in 
the  mean  time  becoming  a  great  favorite  with  the  girls,  espe- 
cially with  Marge,  to  whom  I  thought  he  was  rather  more 
particular  than  he  should  have  been  in  strict  politeness  to 
the  rest  of  us.  He  had  an  object,  however,  I  presume,  in 
conciliating  the  girls  by  his  attentions.  Do  you  think.  Alma, 
that  Marge  Skene  is  so  very  handsome  as  some  pretend  to 
think  her? 

'• '^But  where  was  my  doughty  Major  in  the  meanw^hile?' 
you  will  ask.  Why  he  was  so  unaccountably  busy  with  the 
workmen  in  the  field  just  about  those  days,  that  he  could 
not,  on  any  account,  attend  us  on  any  of  our  delightful  excur- 
sions. xVnd  when  he  joined  us  at  our  meals,  he  was  as  grave 
as  a  Turk.  Mr.  S.,  however,  I  thought,  was  less  alarmed  than 
amused  at  his  awfulness  of  countenance. 

''After  two  days  thus  spent,  and  on  the  morning  of  the 
third  after  our  arrival,  Mr.  S.  suddenly  announced  to  us  his 
intention  of  an  immediate  departure.  The  girls  were  evi- 
dently touched  with  regret  and  disappointment  at  this  unex- 
pected announcement,  thinking,  perhaps,  that  their  work  was 
but  half  complete.  But  if  ever  Margery,  or  Mary  Skene,  is 
selected  by  him  for  a  cynosure,  I  have  mistaken  his  taste; 
and  yet,  I  confess,  his  conduct  has  sometimes  not  a  little  puz- 
zled me.  He  thanked  me  for  the  consideration  I  had  shown 
him  under  unpleasant  circumstances  of  our  first  acquaintance 


136  THE    GREEN    MOUNTAIN    BOYS. 

in  a  manner  so  handsome  and  feeling,  that  it  made  me  feel 
like  a  condemned  and  guilty  one,  when  I  thought  of  that  mad 
act  of  mine,  which  marked  the  introduction  to  which  he  al- 
luded. He  then  very  politely  thanked  the  girls  for  their 
kindness  and  hospitalit}^,  and  was  about  to  depart,  when 
Marge  found  tongue  to  invite  him  to  renew  his  visit. 

"  'I  know  not/  he  answered,  somewhat  pensively,  ^that  cir- 
cumstances will  ever  permit  me  that  pleasure  in  person,  but 
if  you  know  of  any  wa)^,  fair  ladies,' — he  continued,  glancing 
quite  meaningly  at  somebody,  as  the  girls  in  their  jokes  would 
afterwards  have  it — ^any  way  of  receiving  the  visits  I  may 
pay  you  in  dreams,  I  doubt  not  that  you  will  often  be  favored 
with  the  repetition  you  have  so  kindly  invited.  Adieu,  ladies, 
adieu.' 

"I  do  not  certainly  know  the  reason  of  Mr.  Selden's  abrupt 
departure,  but  from  what  I  can  gather,  I  suspect  the  Major 
had  that  morning  despatched  an  express  to  the  authorities  at 
Albany,  with  a  view  to  get  the  former  arrested.  This  I  pre- 
sume, he,  by  some  means  or  other,  got  wind  of,  and  I  am 
glad  of  it,  if  for  no  other  reason  than  that  it  defeated  Philip's 
jealous  meanness.  He  gave  us  all  quite  a  lecture  that  night 
for  being  so  familiar  with  one  who  was  so  much  a  stranger, 
and  threw  out  many  ill-natured  remarks  about  Mr.  S.  that 
helped  his  own  cause,  perhaps,  less  than  he  imagined.  I  wish 
heaven  had  made  him  such  a  man. 

"I  must  now  close  this  long,  and,  I  fear,  very  foolish  letter. 
I  dare  not  read  it  over  for  fear  I  should  burn  it.  I  shall  re- 
main here  for  the  present — I  must,  I  suppose,  till  father  re- 
turns. 0,  what  will  he  say  when  he  hears  what  they  have 
done  with  his  possessions!  For  myself,  I  care  little  or  noth- 
ing about  it.  He  loses  only  what  he  paid  for  the  land — a  mere 
trifle.  As  for  the  labor  and  improvements  bestowed  there,  he 
has  been  more  than  twice  paid  by  the  profits  received.  Be- 
sides, he  is  wealthy  enough  without  this  property,  which,  I 
really  suspect,  he  cruelly  took  from  the  poor  settlers,  who 
had  as  good  a  right  to  it  as  himself — perhaps  better. 

"P.  S.  I  said  I  must  stay  here  till  father's  return,  but 
should  he  tarry  some  months,  I  might  contrive,  perhaps,  to 
come  and  spend  a  few  weeks  with  you.  If  I  should,  as  Mr. 
S.  will  be  somewhere  in  your  vicinit}^,  probably,  and  may 
claim  me  as  an  acquaintance,  you  might  possibly  have  an 
opportunity  of  being  introduced  to  him — that  is,  if  he  knew 


THE    GREEN    MOUNTAIN    BOYS.  137 

that  I  was  tliere.  IN'ow,  my  dear  girl,  I  must  bid  you  good-bye, 
with  the  charge — now  lift  up  your  hand  and  swear — that  you 
will  neither  show  this,  nor  breathe  aught  of  its  contents  to 
mortal  ear!    Eemember!!    Write  soon — adieu.  Jessy .^^ 


CHAPTER   XIII. 


"You  shall  be  viceroys  here,  'tis  true. 
But  we'll  be  viceroys  over  you." 

"Wait  not  till  things  grow  desperater, 
For  hanging  is  no  laughing  matter." 


A  few  miles  to  the  southward  of  the  encampment  of  the 
Green  Mountain  Boys,  before  described,  stood  the  tenement 
of  a  settler  whose  imi^rovements  were  somewhat  in  advance 
of  the  rough  beginnings  of  those  who  resided  in  the  imme- 
diate vicinity.  And  the  owner  and  occupant,  having  gained 
that  point  of  comparative  thrift  from  which  he  could  look 
down  upon  his  less  fortunate  neighbors,  had  lately  begun  to 
manifest  an  ambition  to  outshine  them  also  in  the  civil  dis- 
tinctions to  which  he  believed  himself  now  entitled.  But  his 
solicitude  for  preferment  not  allowing  him  to  await  the  tardy 
honors  which  his  feilow  settlers  of  the  'New  Hampshire  party 
might  be  inclined  to  bestow,  he  had  lately  turned  his  longing 
eye  to  other  dispensers  of  these  coveted  favors.  And  the  pray- 
er of  his  heart,  being  secretly  raade  known  in  the  right  quar- 
ter, was  soon  answered  in  the  shape  of  an  offer  of  the  office  of 
justice  of  the  peace  from  the  government  of  New  York. 
Though  aware  of  the  dangerous  nature  of  such  an  honor  to 
an  inhabitant  of  the  Grants,  yet  the  temptation,  which  was 
now  set  before  him,  and  which,  indeed,  he  had  indirectly 
sought,  was  altogether  too  great  to  be  resisted;  and,  in  an 
evil  hour,  he  privately  accepted  the  office,  in  defiance  of  a 
decree  of  the  Convention  of  his  countrymen,  which  had 
placed  the  acceptance  of  such  an  office,  from  such  a  source, 
by  a  settler,  high  in  the  calendar  of  punishable  offenses. 

To  the  tenement  of  this  aspiring  dignitary  we  will  now  take 
the  reader,  in  anticipation  of  other  visitors.    It  was  the  next 


138  THE    GREEN    MOUNTAIN    BOYS. 

morning  after  the  adyentiire  of  Warrington  and  his  friend, 
the  stont  stranger,  at  Captain  Hendee's;  and  the  dawning 
light  was  jnst  beginning  to  appear  in  the  dappled  east.  The 
freshly  made  sqnire  was  already  awake,  reflecting  with  pecu- 
liar inward  satisfaction  on  the  honors  of  his  new  station,  as 
he  lay  beside  his  loving  rib  in  a  small  bed-room  adjoining 
the  kitchen.  He  had  onlv  the  nio-ht  before  received  his  com- 
mission,  and  his  heart  was  full  of  the  pleasing  subject.  He 
not  only  dwelt  on  the  present  consequence  which  the  offlce 
would  confer,  but  his  expanding  thoughts  began  to  stretch 
forward  to  the  future;  and  he  counted  over  the  probabili- 
ties of  his  advancing,  on  a  stepping  stone  like  this,  to  much 
higher  distinctions  under  a  government,  which,  he  was  now 
ready  to  believe — nay,  secretly  to  wish — would  soon  exercise 
tlie  entire  control  in  the  settlement. 

"They  will  call  me  squire,  now,^'  he  soliloquized,  half 
aloud,  ^'and  once  squire,  always  squire;  so  I  shall  get  the 
title,  let  wliat  will  come  of  it.^^ 

"Come  of  Avhat,  Mr.  Prouty?^^  asked  his  helpmeet  with  a 
3^awn,  awakening  just  in  time  to  catch  the  last  part  of  the 
sentence. 

"Why!  w^hy  I  thought  you  was  asleep,  Polly.  Come  of 
what,  did  you  say?  ~  Oh,  nothing  in  particular;  only  I  have 
been  thinking  over  things  a  little.  And  1^11  tell  you  what  it 
is — there  will  shortly  be  a  great  overturn  in  this  settlement. 
There  wiH^  joii  may  depend  on't." 

"What,  the  Yorkers  get  the  upper  hand?^' 

"Sartain  as  you  live,  Polly!" 

"Then  where  will  go  the  title  to  our  farm?  That  was  what 
yon  was  talking  to  3^ourself  about,  wan't  it  now?" 

"]!^o,  it  wan't.  And  that  ain't  a  thing,  neither,  that 
troubles  me  a  mite." 

"Why  not?" 

"Because  the  office  I  have  just  got  under  the  York  govern- 
ment I  consider  amounts  to  a  security  against  that.  And  if 
the  Green  Mountain  Boys  will  let  me  alone — but  I  don't  in- 
tend they  shall  know  about  my  office  3'et  awhile." 

"Yes,  but  what  good  will  it  do  you  to  be  a  justice,  if  you 
can't  be  squire?" 

"AYliy,  what  does  the  woman  mean?" 

"I  mean  if  you  darsent  let  folks  know^,  so  as  to  call  you 
squire.'^ 


THE    GREEN    MOUNTAIN    BOYS.  139 

^^Ohj  I  can  do  some  business,  even  now,  among  the  York 
party,  without  much  danger.  And  it  won4  be  long  before  all 
that  trouble  will  be  over:  For,  as  I  told  you,  there  is  about 
to  be  a  complete  overturn  here.  The  Yorkers  are  preparing 
to  come  on  with  a  strong  armed  force.  N'ow  don't  say  any- 
thing to  the  neighbors  about  this,  Polly,  as  I  had  it  in  confi- 
dence from  Mr.  Sherwood.'^ 

^'Oh,  did  you?  Well,  that  Mr.  Sherwood  is  a  complete 
gentleman — how  perlite  he  is!  Don't  you  think  so,  Mr. 
Prouty?'' 

^"Yes,  j)erlite  enough,  forzino.  Well,  as  I  was  going  to  say, 
if  they  come  on,  Ethan  Allen,  Warrington,  and  Member 
Baker,  with  all  they  can  raise,  will  stand  no  fag  at  all  with  a 
regular  York  army.  And  all  who  stand  out  then  will  be  in- 
dicted and  informationed  against.  There  will  be  plenty  of 
warrants  called  for  about  those  days,  you  may  depend  on't. 
And  I,  being  the  only  government  justice  in  this  part  of  the 
Grants,  shall  have  the  making  of  them.  It  will  be  money  in 
my  pocket,  I  tell  you,  Polly.    And  then,  when^' — 

"Well,  i  hope  you  will  then  feel  like  getting  me  a  new 
silk  gownd.  You  know,  Mr.  Prouty,  that  my  white  dimoty 
is  now  the  onlv  dress  that  I  have  fit  to  see  company  in." 

"Oh,  fudge!'' 

"I  say  there  is  no  fudge  about  it,  now !  The  neighbors  call 
us  rich,  and  still  it  is  a  solemn  fact,  Mr.  Prouty,  and  I  don't 
care  who  knows  it,  that  you  dress  your  wife  a  great  deal 
worse  than" — 

"'Well,  well,  don^t  bother  me  now;  but  hear  what  I  was 
coming  at:  When  the  York  government  gets  well  established 
here,  as  it  will  be,  they  will  want  two  or  three  Judges  in  this 
quarter,  I  guess,  and  I  being  the  only  one  in  all  this  section, 
that  had  courage  to  accept  the  office  of  justice  of  peace, 
shouldn't  you  think,  Polly,  they  would  kind  o'  naturally  hit 
on  me  for  one  of  them?" 

"Why,  bless  me!  will  they?  So  they  will,  won't  they? 
And  then,  certainly,  Mr.  Prouty" — 

"Hush!  hush!  I  hear  somebody  coming  up  to  the  door. 
Who  on  earth  can  they  be,  I  wonder,  that's  started  out  so 
early?" 

A  smart  rapping  now  being  heard  at  the  door.  Justice 
Prouty  leaped  from  his  bed,  seized  his — ^inexpressibles,  mod- 
fim  dandyism  would  term  them,  we  suppose,  but  finding  no 


140  THE    GREEN    MOUNTAIN    BOYS. 

authority  for  believing  our  fathers  made  use  of  any  garment 
the  appropriate  appellation  of  which  they  considered  it  in- 
decent to  express,  we  will  venture  to  call  things  by  their  right 
names — seized  his  breeches,  hurried  them  on,  together  with 
the  other  parts  of  his  outward  equipment,  and  emerged  into 
the  kitchen,  after  having  twice  gone  back,  at  his  wife^s  hasty 
and  imperious  call,  to  close,  and  more  tightly  close,  the  door 
behind  him.  After  the  customary  '"'walk  in,^'  distinctly  pro- 
nounced by  the  Squire,  the  door  was  opened,  and  two  men 
entered,  both  unknown  to  the  former,  though  not  so  to  those 
who  have  followed  us  through  all  the  different  scenes  of  the 
preceding  pages:  For,  in  the  striking  altitude  of  one  of  the 
visitants,  which  compelled  the  civility  of  bowing,  nolens, 
volens,  as  he  entered  the  door,  like  a  boy  coming, into  a  coun- 
try school,  and  in  the  comical  leer  of  his  countenance,  as  v^^ith 
one  eye  he  seemed  to  be  measuring  the  afi'ectedly  dignified 
person  of  his  host,  while  the  other  was  busily  employed  in 
taldng  an  inventory  of  the  various  articles  about  the  room, 
the  reader  will  find  no  difficulty  in  recognizing  our  jovial 
friend,  Pete  Jones.  The  other,  whose  dress  and  gentlemanly 
bearing  formed  a  striking  contrast  with  that  of  his  rustic 
companion,  was  no  other  than  Selden,  v^^ho,  as  before  inti- 
mated, having  arrived  the  previous  evening,  had  volunteered 
with  the  former  to  make  this  early  call  on  the  justice,  to  pro- 
cure his  immediate  attendance  at  their  encampment  in  the 
woods. 

"Be  seated,  gentlemen,  pray  be  seated/'  said  the  Squire, 
bustling  about,  and  setting  chairs  for  his  guests  with  one 
hand,  and  finishing  the  buttoning  up  of  his  vest  with  the 
other,  "make  yourselves  comfortable — no  ceremony  here — 
just  turned  out,  you  see.  Called  on  business,  I  take  it,  gen- 
tlemen?" he  added,  meaning  official  business,  on  which  his 
mind  was  still  running,  and  the  wish,  in  this  case,  as  often 
happens,  proving  father  to  the  thought. 

"We  have,  sir,''  answered  Selden,  bowing  with  well  as- 
sumed respect.    "You  are  a  justice  of  the  peace  we  are  told?" 

"Why,  as  to  that,  sir,"  replied  Prout}^,  hesitating,  and 
glancing  with  a  doubtful  air,  alternately  at  Selden  and  his 
companion,  "perhaps  I  may  have  heard — that  is,  I  can't  sart- 
ainly  say,  but  I  have  heard  that  I  was  appointed  to  the  office; 
though  as  to  accepting — You  are  of  the  right  party,  I  trust, 
gentlemen?" 


THE    GREEN    MOUNTAIN    BOYS.  141 

"We  certain!}'  tliink  we  are,  at  least,  sir/'  rejoined  the  for- 
mer gravely. 

"That's  as  true  as  preaching,  Squire,"  said  Pete;  "for  if 
we  ain't  on  the  right  side,  I  would  give  my  old  jack-knife  to 
know  who  are." 

"All  right,  I  presume,  gentlemen;  but  rather  ticklish  times, 
you  know — ^thought  it  no  hurt  to  be  a  little  particular.  But 
what  business  did  you  want  done?  x^o  harm  in  asking  that, 
I  s'pose,  gentlemen?"  said  the  Squire,  adding  the  last  ques- 
tion by  way  of  opening  a  door  for  a  retreat,  should  one  be 
necessary. 

"Oh,  no,"  replied  Selden,  "but  I  know  not  that  I  can  state 
precisely  the  nature  of  the  business  v/hich  those,  who  sent  us 
for  you,  wish  done,  but  it  is  something,  I  believe,  that  they 
think  requires  your  presence." 

"0,  ho,  not  to  be  done  here,  then,  gentlemen?"  observed 
the  Squire,  a  little  doubtingiy,  again. 

"I^To,  sir,  the  place  is  several  miles  from  here,  I  should 
think,"  responded  Selden  with  an  air  of  indifference. 

"Is  Mr.  Sherwood  there?"  asked  the  Squire,  rather 
anxiously. 

"I  believe  not.  Squire,"  answered  Selden,  wdth  the  same  in- 
difference, "but  they  are  anxious  he  should  be,  and  hope  he 
will  come  before  closing  the  business." 

"I'll  swear  to  that.  Squire,"  said  Jones,  with  a  ludicrous 
effort  to  keep  mischief  from  showing  itself  in  his  countenance. 

"Aye,  all  right  th^n,  gentlemen,"  rejoined  the  Squire,  still 
stupidly  determined  to  understand  the  indefinite  and  evasive 
language  of  his  visitors,  in  the  way  that  his  wishes  pointed. 
"But  I  thought  I  would  make  sure.  You,  sir,"  he  continued, 
addressing  Selden,  "I  thought  from  the  first  glance  must  be- 
long to  the  right  party.  This  other  gentleman,  here,  I  don't 
know  so  well  about,  but  it  makes  no  difference  what  I  thought, 
as  I  see  you  agree.  I  will  attend  you,  gentlemen.  But  hadn't 
we  better  stop  and  get  some  breakfast  first?" 

"Oh,  no,"  replied  Selden,  "they  expressly  told  us  to  come  on 
immediately,  and  the  folks  would  have  a  good  breakfast  pre- 
pared for  us  all,  by  the  time  we  could  arrive  there." 

Esquire  Prouty,  after  notifying  his  wife  of  his  intended 
absence,  now  signified  his  readiness  to  depart;  when  all  three 
set  forward  towards  the  encampment  of  the  Green  Mountain 
Boys,  the  former  without  further  question,  or  any  apparent 


142  THE    GREEN    MOUNTAIN    BOYS. 

distrust^  putting  himself  under  the  guidance  of  liis  attendants. 
And  wrapped  up  in  self  consequence,  and  dreaming  only  of 
the  important  figure  he  was  shortly  to  make  in  the  first  ex- 
ercise of  his  new  vocation,  he  unhesitatingly  followed  his 
guides,  as  with  rapid  stej^s  they  silently  led  the  way,  some- 
times proceeding  in  the  road,  sometimes  through  a  piece  of 
woods,  and  sometimes  through  open  fields.  At  length  they 
reached  the  border  of  the  dark,  continuous  forest,  within 
which,  at  the  distance  of  about  a  half  mile,  was  the  encamp- 
ment to  wliich  they  were  destined;  when  the  Squire,  now 
for  the  first  time  hesitating,  or  seeming  to  entertain  any  sus- 
picion that  they  were  taking  him  to  a  less  agreeable  destina- 
tion than  he  had  anticipated,  paused  in  his  steps,  and  threw 
a  doubtful  and  apprehensive  glance  around  him. 

'^Never  mind,  Squire,^'  cried  Jones,  who,  having  with  diffi- 
culty restrained  himself  from  giving  vent,  in  some  shape  or 
other,  to  the  secret  merriment  he  had  been  indulging  on  the 
way,  at  the  Squire's  credulity  in  suffering  himself  to  be  so  fool- 
ishly lured  from  home,  thought  it  would  now  do  to  begin  to 
banter  the  obtuse  justice  a  little,  "never  mind.  Squire,  you 
needn't  look  so  streaked — we  belong  to  the  right  party,  you 
know." 

"Yes,  but  if  you  would  but  Jest  inform  me,  gentlemen" — 
said  the  other  imploringly  and  with  visible  perturbation — 
"only  jest  inform  me" 

"Oh,  push  ahead,  man!"  interrupted  Jones,  who  purposely 
dropping  in  the  rear,  now  urged  on  the  reluctant  Squire  with 
a  show  of  pettish  impatience,  as  if  detained  by  excuses  too 
frivolous  to  merit  a  reply,  "push  ahead,  my  stomach  is  getting 
fairly  wolfish  for  that  breakfast.  I'll  be  blessed  if  I  don't 
almost  think  I  begin  to  smell  it  at  this' distance!" 

Somewhat  assured  by  the  other's  manner  of  treating  his 
scruples,  and,  though  not  quite  satisfied,  yet  feeling  a  little 
ashamed  of  his  fears,  the  Squire  now  passively  sufrered  him- 
self to  be  conducted  forward,  till,  reaching  the  foot  of  the 
mountain,  and  turning  closely  round  a  projecting  ledge  of 
rocks,  he  suddenly,  and  to  his  utter  disma}^  found  himself  in 
the  midst  of  a  group  of  sturdy  men,  whom,  from  their  appear- 
ance, he  at  once  knew  to  be  a  band  of  Green  Mountain  Boys. 
Instantly  comprehending  the  nature  of  their  business  with 
him,  he  stopped  short,  and  stood  confused,  and  trembling  in 
mute  alarm  before  them.     Nor  were  his  fears  at  all  dimin- 


THE    GREEN    MOUNTAIN    BOYS.  U'6 

islied  by  the  array  of  well  known  names,  wliicli  his  conductor 
the  next  moment  announced  by  way  of  introduction,  the 
ceremonies  of  which  the  latter  now  commenced  performing 
very  formally  with  these  nearest  at  hand. 

^'Esquire  Prouty,  allow  me  to  present  you  to  Captain  Ke- 
member  Baker/'  began  Selden,  pompously  weaving  his  hand 
towards  a  keen-eyed,  determined  looking  man,  who  stood  in 
front  of  the  others. 

The  confused  Squire  nodded  his  head  mechanically,  but 
his  tongue  refused  to  do  its  office,  except  by  a  half  articulated 
'^^How'd  do,  sir,''  as  he  heard  the  name  of  one  of  that  famous 
trio,  who  had  so  long  been  the  terror  of  the  E'ew  York  au- 
thorities. 

"Again,  Esquire  Prouty,  will  you  permit  me  the  pleasure 
of  presenting  you  to  Captain  Charles  Warrington?"  pro- 
ceeded Selden,  as  the  latter  advanced  to  favor  the  introduc- 
tion. 

"Warrington!"  gasped  the  Squire,  with  increased  trepida- 
tion, "Warrington  too!" 

"And  yet  once  more,"  continued  the  imperturbable  Lieu- 
tenant, beckoning  to  our  Herculean  hero  of  the  shag  coat,  who 
figured  so  conspicuously  at  Captain  Hendee's,  in  his  adven- 
ture with  the  soldiers  the  night  previous,  and  who  was  now 
here  and  came  forward  at  the  intimation,  "once  more,  Es- 
cjuire  Prouty,  shall  I  have  the  very  great  honor  of  introduc- 
ing you  to  Colonel  Ethan  Allen?" 

"God  have  mercy  on  me!"  involuntarily  burst  from  the 
lips  of  the  affrighted  justice,  as  the  announcement  of  the 
last  name  capped  the  climax  of  his  terror  and  despair,  "Oh, 
God  have  mercy!    I  am  a  lost  man!" 

"Pooh!  you  cowardly  fool!"  exclaimed  Allen,  with  a  look 
of  mingled  pity  and  contempt,  "rouse  up,  and  bear  it  like  a 
man,  and  if  you  promise  no  more  to  betray  your  injured  and 
bleeding  country  by  becoming  the  tool  of  tyrants,  it  shall 
go  the  lighter  with  you.  At  all  events,  you  need  not  fear  that 
you  will  be  punished  to  the  extent  of  half  your  deserts. 
But  come,  boys,  set  on  the  breakfast.  It  might  be  hazardous 
to  our  prisoners,  the  Squire  and  surveyor  here,  to  proceed 
with  them,  with  the  inward  man  in  so  ravenous  a  plight;  for 
Hunger  and  Mercy  never  got  near  enough  to  each  other 
to  shake  hands  since  the  fall  of  Adam.    And  even  the  awards 

lO 


144  THE    GREEN    MOUNTAIN    BOYS. 

of  Justice  lierself^  niiglit  "be  questionable  rectitiide^  if  made 
under  the  irritations  of  an  empty  stomach." 

The  breakfast^  which  consisted  of  a  plentiful  supply  of 
roasted  venison,  partridges,  and  other  small  game,  with  such 
trimmings  as  the  settlers  living  near,  and  in  the  secret  of  the 
encampment,  had  sent  in,  was  served  up  on  a  rude  kind  of 
platform,  composed  of  smooth  white  pieces  cleft  from  the 
freely  rifting  bass  wood,  and  supported  on  cross  pieces  laid 
upon  forked  stakes,  or  crotches,  as  they  are  usually  denomi- 
nated in  the  woodman's  phrase.  Around  this  temporary  table, 
benches  of  an  equally  rude  construction  were  placed  suffi- 
cient for  the  accommodation  of  all  the  company,  including 
the  prisoners,  now  consisting  of  the  Squire,  the  surveyor,  and 
his  assistant,  all  of  whom  v»^ere  respectfully  shown  places  at 
the  table.  The  meal  was  generally  partaken  in  silence,  the 
officers  seeming  to  fear  that  too  much  sociability  might  have 
a  tendenc}^  to  unnerve  them  for  the  task  on  hand,  and  the 
men  respectfully  "followed  the  example  of  their  superiors, 
with  the  exception  of  Pete  Jones,  who  could  not  forbear  oc- 
casionally throwing  a  sly  joke  at  the  chop-fallen  Squire. 

•'ISrow  gentlemen,  for  business,''  said  Allen,  rising  from 
the  table  the  moment  their  meal  was  finished,  as  ominously 
knitting  his  dark,  heavy  brows,  he  pulled  from  his  pocket, 
and  in  a  loud  commanding  voice,  commenced  reading  a  decree 
of  the  Convention,  forbidding  ^^Each  and  all  of  the  inhabi- 
tants of  the  New  Hampshire  Grants,  to  hold,  take,  or  accept, 
any  office  of  honor  or  profit  imder  the  colony  of  N'ew  York" 
— and  requiring  ^^All  officers  and  others,  acting  under  the 
Governor  or  Legislature  of  that  province,  to  suspend  their 
functions,  on  pain  of  being  viewed."  .  Pie  then  produced  a 
letter  from  a  secret  agent  of  the  settlers  at  Albany,  giving 
the  date  of  Prouty's  commission,  and  enclosing  a  letter  from 
the  Squire  himself,  accepting  the  office  in  question.  He 
also  sent  a  copy  of  a  notice  some  weeks  previous  to  the  sur- 
veyor, warning  him  to  quit  the  Grants  without  delay. 

"And  now  what  have  ye  to  say?"  sternly  demanded  Allen, 
turning  to  the  prisoners  as  soon  as  he  had  finished  reading 
the  documents.  "What  have  ye  to  say,  ye  minions  of  York, 
why  ye  should  not  be  viewed,  to  the  full  extent  and  meaning 
of  the  decree,  made  and  provided  for  the  like  of  ye?" 

Quailing  under  the  withering  gaze  of  Allen,  the  justice 
could  not  muster  courage  to  lift  his  head,  or  utter  a  single 


THE    GREEN   MOUNTAIN    BOYS.  145 

word  in  reply.  But  the  surveyor^  who  was  a  man  of  more 
firmness,  and  bore  liimself  quite  collectedly  on  the  occasion, 
attempted  an  argument  with  the  leader  of  the  Green  Moun- 
tain Boys,  denying  all  right  of  the  settlers  to  arrest  him,  pro- 
testing against  being  tried  by  any  but  a  court  acting  under 
the  authority  of  New  York,  and  appealing  to  that  authority 
for  his  justification. 

"The  authority  of  New  York!''  scornfully  exclaimed  the 
other,  "appeal  to  the  authority  of  New  York!  Why  not  ap- 
peal, at  once,  to  the  chancery  of  hell,  the  fountain  head  of 
that  stream  of  corruption  which  comes  to  us  under  the  name 
of  New  York  law  and  justice?  We,  sir,  we,  the  poor  and 
insufferably  abused  settlers  of  these  Grants,  have  often  aj)- 
pealed  to  that  source  of  justice — appealed  for  protection 
against  the  lawless  aggressions  of  your  cormorant  speculators, 
who  have  attempted  to  wrest  from  us  our  rightful  posses- 
sions, to  seize,  with  the  grasp  of  plunderers,  our  hard  earned 
pittances,  and  turn  us  out,  houseless  and  destitute,  into  the 
wilderness.  But  we  have  appealed  in  vain,  and  only  to  learn 
our  own  folly  in  expecting  that  sin  would  ever  be  rebuked  by 
Satan.  No,  sir,  we  will  suffer  no  such  appeal,  but  will  our- 
selves give  you  a  conclusive  judgment  in  the  premises;  and 
such  an  one,  too,  as  shall  give  you  the  wages  of  your  iniquities. 
What  say  you,  my  merry  mountaineers?'' 

As  soon  as  the  hearty,  but  variously  expressed  responses, 
by  which  the  men  testified  their  approbation  of  the  remarks 
of  their  leader,  we3?e  over.  Baker,  Warrington,  and  Selden, 
who  during  the  discussion,  had  been  engaged  in  a  low  con- 
versation apart  from  the  rest,  beckoned  Allen  to  approach 
them.  The  latter,  obeying  the  intimation,  advanced,  and, 
after  listening  attentively  awhile  to  some  proposal  or  plan, 
which  the  others  appeared  to  be  imparting  to  him,  snapped 
his  fingers  wit-h  delight,  and  exclaimed: 

"Capital!  capital,  by  Jupiter!"  he  repeated,  bringing  down 
his  huge  palm  upon  the  snugly  fitting  buckskin,  covering 
his  broad  thigh,  with  a  slap  that  echoed  through  the  woods 
like  the  report  of  a  pistol.  "  'Member,  you  shall  announce 
it  to  them,  and  I  will  see  that  it  is  carried  into  execution." 

Baker  accordingly  stepped  forward  and  addressing  the 
surveyor,  gravely  informed  him,  that  it  had  been  determined 
to  accede  to  the  wish  he  had  expressed,  of  being  tried,  if  he 
was  to  be  tried  at  all,  by  a  court  of  his  own  colony.     And 

10 


146  THE   GREEN   MOUNTAIN   BOYS. 

that  Justice  Proiity,  who  had  lately  been  commissioned  by 
the  government  of  New  York_,  would  therefore  now  immedi- 
ately proceed  with  the  trial. 

^^Oh,  gentleman^  oh^  sir!"  began  Pronty,  beseechingly^  as 
Allen  now  came  forward  to  attend  to  the  part  he  had  pro- 
posed to  assume  in  the  business. 

"JSTow  don't.  Justice  Prouty/'  interrupted  Selden,  with  pro- 
voking irony,  "don't,  I  beg  of  you,  suffer  your  diffidence  to 
deprive  us  of  the  aid  of  your  acknowledged  abilities  in  this 
important  case.  Having  had  the  honor  of  introducing  you  to 
this  company,  I  am  very  anxious  that  you  should  acquit 
yourself  creditably  on  the  occasion." 

"Yes,  sir,  but  then  my  situation" — again  began  to  expostu- 
late the  troubled  justice. 

"Come,  your  worship,"  interrupted  Allen,  with  a  spice  of 
the  comic  mingled  with  the  determined  expression  of  his 
countenance,  "you  are  to  tr}^,  and  to  sentence  this  York  inter- 
loper, and  no  two  ways  about  it,  neither,  I  will  swear  to  you. 
There!"  he  continued,  seizing  the  reluctant  and  trembling 
Squire,  with  one  hand  grasping  the  seat  of  his  breeches,  and 
the  other  his  collar,  and  lifting  and  placing  him  on  the  side 
of  the  platform,  with  the  apparent  ease  of  one  handling  an 
infant:  "There!  sit  on  the  edge  of  this  table,  for  a  King's 
Bench.  You  did  not  think  to  arrive  to  that  honor  so  soon, 
did  you.   Squire?" 

"ISTow,.  Squire,"  said  Peter  Jones,  with  one  of  his  mis- 
chievous looks,  "may  I  be  eternally  happy,  if  I  don't  think  you 
a  considerable  dabster  of  a  prophet!  Don't  you  see  how 
cute  it  is  all  coming  to  pass  what  you  told  your  old  woman 
this  morning  about  your  getting  to  be  a  judge  soon?  Though 
I  must  axe  your  pardon,  Squire,  for  listening  under  your  bed- 
room window  a  little,  before  we  rapped  to  come  in." 

"Well,  is  the  court  ready  to  proceed?"  said  Allen.  "Now 
for  my  opening,  as  the  lawyers  say — I  am  for  the  prosecu- 
tion, recollect." 

"Now  I  do  protest — I  beseech  you,  sir" — once  more  began 
to  stammer  the  confused  and  dreadfully  perplexed  justice. 

"Shut  up,  sir!"  fiercely  exclaimed  Allen.  "Hell  and  Furies! 
who  ever  heard  of  a  court  before  so  despotic  as  to  refuse  to 
hear  the  statements  of  counsel?  No,  no,  Mr.  Court,  that 
will  never  do,  so  now  hear  me." 

The  Squire,  thus  awed  into  silence,  hung  his  head,  and  sat 


THE    GREEN    MOUNTAIN    BOYS.  147 

as  still  as  his  agitation  would  permit^  while  the  other  pro- 
duced, and  again  read  the  documents  by  which  he  had  first 
introduced  the  subject;  and,  after  briefly  summing  up  the 
evidence,  demanded  that  a  sentence  be  imposed  upon  the 
surveyor  of  forty  lashes  of  the  beech  rod. 

"I  dispute  the  authority  of  your  pretended  Convention, 
and  I  protest  against  the  whole  of  these  proceedings  as  illegal 
and  riotous,"  exclaimed  the  surveyor,  with  considerable  spirit. 

^^Well,  very  well,  sir,"  said  Allen,  with  the  utmost  com- 
posure; "you  have  had  your  say,  and  made  your  defense,  as 
you  had  an  undoubted  right  to  do.  I  am  always  for  liberty 
of  speech  when  a  man  has  really  anything  to  say,  and  also  for 
allowing  a  fair  hearing  in  all  cases,  though  that  is  more  than 
your  infernal  York  tribunals  will  permit,  in  nine  cases  out 
of  ten.  But  let  us  now  attend  to  the  decision  of  the  court. 
Boys,  you  may  as  well  be  getting  a  brace  of  genteel  beech- 
sealers;  for  I  feel  very  confident  of  a  decision  in  my  favor. 
'Now,  Mr.  Justice,  proceed  with  your  sentence.  Forty  stripes, 
with  a  green  beech  rod  is  all  I  claim,  recollect — quite  mod- 
erate, certainly;  but  it  is  always  best  to  lean  towards  the  side 
of  mercy.    Proceed,  sir!" 

"Anything  else,  gentlemen,"  groaned  the  distressed  Squire, 
"I  will  do  anything  else  you  say.  But  this,  now,  I  cannot, 
and  dare  not  do." 

"Hark^ee,  Mr.  Court,"  rejoined  the  other,  placing  his  arms 
akimbo,  and  looking  at  the  justice  with  the  air  of  one  re- 
solved to  have  no  nrore  words  on  the  subject,  "a  sentence  out 
of  you  I  will  have,  as  sure  as  the  devil  delays  his  coming 
for  your  soul  long  enough  for  you  to  pronounce  it.  Will 
you  proceed,  sir?  I^To  answer,  eh?  Well,  we  will  soon  see 
whether  Ethan  Allen  has  got  to  eat  his  own  words,  or  not. 
Jones,  bring  me  that  surveyor's  chain  in  the  camp,  there." 

Allen,  taking  out  his  pocket  handkerchief,  very  deliberately 
made  a  slip  noose,  and  adjusted  it  round  the  neck  of  the  trem- 
bling Squire.  He  next  carefully  tied  the  tail  of  this  noose 
to  one  end  of  the  chain,  throwing  the  other  end,  at  the  same 
time,  over  the  large  limb  of  a  tree,  which  projected  directly 
over  their  heads,  at  the  height  of  twelve  or  fifteen  feet  from 
the  ground. 

"There,  Jones,  catch  that  end,  and  just  straighten  her  out  a 
little,"  he  observed,  with  a  cool,  business-like  air.  "I  have 
heard  say  that  hanging  was  intended  to  bring  about  justice. 


i48  THE    GilBEN    MOUNTAIN    BOYg. 

Let  us  see  if  a  little  of  it  won^t  have  that  effect  in  the  present 
instance/' 

Obeying  with  mischievons  alacrity,  Pete,  now  running  the 
chain  rapidly  over  the  limb,  brought  it  np  jnst  ^^tant  enough/^ 
to  use  a  sea  phrase,  to  make  the  noose  sensibly  felt  by  the 
Squire;  upon  which  the  latter,  staring  and  glaring  wildly 
around,  as  a  slight  sense  of  suffocation  came  over  him,  leaped 
upon  his  feet,  and  stood  upright.  This  shift,  however,  af- 
forded him  but  a  momentary  relief:  for  Jones  quickly  fol- 
lowed up  the  movement,  straightening  the  chain  with  a  jerk 
that  brought  the  victim  on  to  his  toes;  in  which  ]oosition, 
grappling  the  chain  above  his  head  with  both  hands,  and 
begging,  like  a  half  whipped  school  boy,  for  mercy,  he  was 
suffered  to  remain  a  moment,  to  give  him  one  more  opportuni- 
ty of  complying  with  the  requisition  which  had  been  made 
upon   him. 

"Your  last  chance  of  salvation!"  exclaimed  the  leader,  in 
a  tone  that  testified  his  growing  impatience  at  the  man's  ob- 
stinacy. "You  will  comply  in  one  moment  more,  or,  by  the 
horned  Lucifer,  the  next  shall  find  you  dangling  v/ithin  a 
yard  of  yonder  limb!" 

"j^ow  I  would,  gentlemen,  sartainly  would  if" — again  be- 
gan to  splutter  the  struggling,  though  yet  unconquered 
Squire. 

"String  him  up,  Jones!"  cried  Allen,  with  startling  energy. 

The  next  instant  the  body  of  the  poor  justice  was  spinning 
round  on  one  toe,  with  the  tip  of  which  he  was  barely  able 
to  touch  the  platform. 

"Oh!  I'm  choking!"  screeched  the  now  really  suffering 
wretch.     "Oh!   ugh!   ugh!   ugh!    I  will: — mil — I'll  do  it!" 

"Ease  away  there,  Jones!"  said  Allen,  "he  has  come  to  his 
senses  at  last,  and  I  think  there  will  be  no  further  trouble;  so 
you  may  give  him  full  play  now." 

After  being  again  questioned  as  to  the  reality  of  his  inten- 
tions to  proceed  with  the  required  task,  the  subdued  Squire 
was  let  fully  down,  and  permitted  to  stand  at  ease  on  the 
platform;  when,  as  soon  as  he  had  recovered  his  breath  and 
composure  sufficiently  to  allow  him  to  speak,  he  mumbled 
off  the  sentence,  which  he  had  run  such  a  risk  to  avoid  pro- 
nouncing. 

"Now,  Mr.  Court,"  said  Allen,  with  a  slightly  roguish  curl 
of  the  lip,  "as  you  have  been  brought  to  a  sense  of  your  duty, 


THE    GREEN    MOUNTAIN   BOYS.  149 

and  given  the  sentence  wMch  Justice  required  of  you,  it  is  no 
doubt  incumbent  on  you,  sir,  to  see  it  executed.  And,  as  all 
my  men  here  stand  sworn  never  to  execute  any  sentence  of  a 
York  magistrate,  it  follows,  of  course,  that  you  must  be  the 
executioner  yourself,  in  the  present  case;  so  now  dismount, 
sir,  if  you  please,  take  this  rod,  and,  after  I  have  unnoosed  you 
of  this  marvelous  j)rompter  of  justice,"  he  continued,  tak- 
ing off  the  noose,  and  placing  a  beechen  rod  in  the  hands  of 
the  other,  you  will  proceed  to  apply  it  in  a  way  that  shall  show 
the  sincerity  of  what  you  have  just  said  and  done.  Boys, 
you  may  take  off  the  surveyor's  coat,  and  then  form  a  ring, 
with  a  few  switches  in  your  hands,  if  you  will,  to  see  that 
justice  is  duly  administered  on  the  occasion.  There,  that  will 
do.  Well,  Squire,  we  are  now  ready  to  proceed — what!  hes- 
itating again!  Jones,  seize  the  end  of  that  chain,  there,  and 
be  ready,  while  I  replace  the  noose." 

But  Prouty,  having  had  quite  as  many  of  such  promptings 
as  he  felt  willing  to  receive,  did  not  wait  to  be  noosed  again, 
but  lifting  the  rod,  moved  forward,  as  if  ready  to  perform  the 
required  task,  without  further  resistance.  Allen  then  ad- 
vanced and  threw  another  rod  down  at  the  feet  of  the  sur- 
veyor, gravely  observing — 

"There,  Mr.  Surveyor,  supposing  from  what  you  have 
thrown  out  here,  that  you  think  the  court  have  sentenced 
you  unjustly,  we  have  concluded  that,  while  he  is  executing 
the  sentence  on  you,  we  will  give  you  a  chance  to  avenge  the 
injury.  You  have  tlierefore  our  free  and  full  permission  to 
return  blow  for  blow  through  the  whole  of  it.  Indeed,  sir,  I 
should  rather  advise  you  to  do  it;  for  our  boys  here,  who  are 
great  sticklers  for  fair  play,  may  take  it  into  their  heads,  per- 
haps, to  say  that  it  would  be  unjust  for  one  Yorker  to  re- 
ceive all  the  honors  of  the  day,  without  imparting  an  equitable 
share  to  his  fellow.  And  in  case  you  should  neglect  to  do 
what  they  think  is  about  right,  I  know  not  what  may  happen 
to  you.  And  now,  Mr.  Justice,"  he  continued,  turning  sternly 
to  Prouty,  "now,  Mr.  Justice,  be  lively,  and  with  the  fear  of 
God  and  Ethan  i^Uen  before  your  eyes,  lay  on,  sir!" 

It  would  be  difficult  to  conceive  anything  more  strangely 
ludicrous  than  the  scene  that  followed.  The  reluctant  Squire, 
daring  no  longer  to  delay,  novv^  gave  tv/o  or  three  faint  and 
harmless  blows  across  the  legs  of  the  surveyor;  when  he  was 
admonished  by  Allen,  in  a  tone  which  experience  had  taught 


150  THE    GREEN    MOUNTAIN    BOYS. 

him  pretty  well  liow  to  interpret,  to  lay  on  more  seriously. 
Spurred  up  by  his  fears,  the  justice  then  began  to  administer 
the  applications  of  his  rod  with  about  that  medium  degree  of 
violence,  which,  producing  all  the  smart  of  heavier  blows 
without  the  benumbing  antidote  of  bruising,  is  always  far 
more  irritating,  and  is  generally,  perhaps,  even  more  intensely 
painful  to  the  victim  than  blows  of  double  the  severity.  At 
all  events,  the  Squire's  applications  soon  produced  a  very 
visible  effect  on  the  surveyor,  who,  till  this  stage  of  the  busi- 
ness, had  stood  eyeing  the  proceedings  in  dogged  silence. 
But  now  leaping  about,  and  being  no  longer  able  to  stand 
the  pain  which  the  Squire's  applications  began  to  impart,  he 
hastity  caught  up  the  rod  at  his  feet,  and,  swearing  with  spite- 
ful bitterness,  that  he  would  put  it  on,  to  punish  the  other 
for  suffering  himself  to  become  the  tool  of  a  m.ob,  gave  back 
the  blows  with  so  much  interest  that  it  soon  roused  in  turn  the 
ire  of  the  justice,  who,  now  beginning  to  dance  to  the  same 
tune,  and  from  the  same  cause  which  had  put  his  opponent 
in  motion,  fell  to,  and  laid  on  in  good  earnest.  Becoming 
thus  mutually  incensed,  and  the  anger  of  each  rapidly 
kindling  at  the  increased  pain  of  his  adversary's  applications, 
every  blow  from  the  one  was  followed  by  a  heavier  blow 
from  the  other.  And,  the  blows  falling  heavier 
and  thicker  every  instant,  it  soon  grew  into  one  of  the  most 
severe  and  furious  flagellations  ever  witnessed  in  the  settle- 
ment, and  one  that  was  amply  satisfactory  to  our  band  of 
Green  Mountain  Boys,  who  stood  by,  sending  forth  shout 
after  shout,  and  peal  after  peal  of  laughter,  that  fairly  shook 
the  slumbering  wilderness  with  the  deafening  reverberations. 
And  so  deeply  engaged  had  become  these  accustomed  digni- 
taries in  administering  to  each  other  this  whimsically  con- 
ceived, and  queerly  conducted  punishment,  that  it  was  not 
till  they  had  exceeded  the  prescribed  number  of  stripes  by 
nearly  a  dozen,  that  either  of  them  thought  of  ^delding. 
Prouty,  however,  being  of  a  less  obstinate  disposition,  and 
possessing  less  nerve  than  the  other,  at  length  gave  over,  and 
cried  lustily  for  quarter,  which,  even  then,  so  implacable  had 
the  surveyor  become,  was  only  granted  him  on  the  interposi- 
tion of  the  Green  Mountain  Boys. 

"Well,  Squire,"  said  Jones,  the  only  man  who  seemed  dis- 
posed to  make  any  comments  at  the  close  of  this  curious 
scene,  ^^don't  you  think  these  Yorkers  most  cruel  bloody  fel- 


THE    GREEN    MOUNTAIN    BOYS.  151 

lows?  Ah!  jest  as  I  told  you,  Squire,  we  belong  to  the  right 
party." 

The  business  of  the  morning  having  been  thus  brought  to 
a  close.  Justice  Prouty,  with  an  admonition  to  go  and  learn 
wisdom  from  folly,  was  released  and  sent  home.  The  sur- 
veyor's instruments  were  next  broken  to  pieces  by  Allen,  and 
the  fragments  hurled  into  the  bushes.  The  surveyor  himself, 
with  his  assistant,  who  had  not  been  considered  of  public  con- 
sequence enough  to  be  punished,  was  then  put  in  charge  of 
Jones  and  Brown,  who  were  ordered  to  escort  them  to  the 
New  York  line,  and  there  leave  them. 

Within  half  an  hour  from  the  departure  of  the  prisoners,  the 
encampment  of  the  Green  Mountain  Boys  under  Snake  Moun- 
tain was  broken  up,  and  the  place  deserted,  the  different  in- 
dividuals composing  the  band,  after  a  brief  consultation,  hav- 
ing been  dispatched  by  their  enterprising  and  impetuous 
leader,  in  various  directions,  on  secret  business  connected 
with  the  important  events  which  were  in  train,  and  the  new 
and  untried  scenes  which  were  now  soon  to  follow. 


CHAPTER  XIV. 


"Strong  hands  in  harvest,  daring  feet  in  chase, 
True  hearts  in  tight,  were  gathered  in  that  place 
Of  secret  council." 


If  there  is  a  town  in  Vermont  whose  first  set  of  inhabitants 
deserved  the- appellation  of  high-minded  and  worthy,  it  was 
the  early  settlers  of  Middlebury.  Distinguished,  from  their 
first  pitch  on  the  fertile  banks  of  the  Otter,  for  enterprise, 
firmness  and  intelligence,  they  were  among  the  foremost  to 
resist  the  aggressions  of  a  government,  which,  unwittingl)^, 
perhaps,  had  lent  itself  to  aid  the  unprincipled  schemes  of  a 
few  rapacious  land  speculators;  while  the  opening  scenes  of 
our  revolution  founcl  them  ready  to  engage,  with  the  same 
alacrity,  and  with  the  best  of  their  means  in  the  greater  work 
of  achieving  the  independence  of  their  whole  country.    And 


152  THE    GREEN    MOUNTAIN    BOYS. 

scarcely  had  the  storm  of  war  passed  over^  and  the  snnhght 
of  peace  began  to  break  in  on  their  infant  settlement^  before 
they  united^  with  a  zeal  as  extraordinary,  considering  their 
circumstances  and  means,  as  it  was  commendable,  in  rearing, 
by  private  miinmcence  alone,  a  collegiate  institution  which 
for  many  succeeding  years  did  more,  probably,  towards  elevat- 
ing the  moral  and  literary  character  of  Vermont,  than  any  one 
cause  operating  within  her  borders.  And  her  alumni,  now 
many  of  them  in  eminence  at  the  bar,  and  in  the  pulpit,  and 
found  gracing  not  only  every  station  in  their  own  favored 
country,  from  the  humble  school  room,  to  the  senate  cham- 
ber of  the  nation,  but  nobly  dispensing  her  light  among  the 
people  of  every  clime  upon  the  face  of  the  broad  earth, 
whither,  in  the  fearless  and  enterprising  spirit  of  their  fath- 
ers, they  have  scattered  themselves, — now  to  teach  the  arts 
to  the  boorish  Euss,  or  besotted  Turk,  now  to  assist  the  en- 
slaved Greek,  or  South  American,  in  his  struggles  for  free- 
dom, and  now  to  rear  the  standard  of  the  Cross  among  the  de- 
graded pagans  of  the  East — her  grateful  alupani,  often,  often 
turn  back,  in  fancy,  to  their  beloved  Alma  Mater, 

"To  linger  delighted  o'er  scenes  recall'd  there," 

and  admire,  and  bless  the  noble  and  self-sacrificing  spirit  of 
Painter,  Chipman,  Storrs,  and  others  of  her  munificent  found- 
ers, who  made  themselves  poor  in  pecuniary  estate,  that 
the  children  of  their  country  might  become  rich  in  knowledge. 

With  these  remarks,  suggested  by  the  location  of  the  scene 
about  to  be  described,  and  their  expression  here  prompted  by 
the  personal  interest  which  the  writer-  of  these  unworthy 
pages  must  ever  feel  in  that  institution,  in  which  he  was 
taught  at  once  his  weakness  and  his  strength,  and  to  which 
he  is  mainly  indebted  for  the  schooling  and  chastening  of  a 
wild  and  untutored  imagination,  and  for  the  formation  of 
whatever  mental  character  he  may  possess;  with  these  re- 
marks, we  say,  let  us  now  proceed  in  the  narration  of  our 
story. 

Could  one  of  the  fabled  scenes  drawn  by  the  immortal 
Homer  have  been  so  far  realized,  on  the  4th  of  May,  1775, 
that  ^lars,  the  supposed  supervisor  of  every  military  enter- 
prise, had  sat  in  his  cloud  begirt  chariot  over  that  tract  of 
country  lying  between  Lake  Champlain  and  the  Grcon  Moun- 


l^HE  GfiEBN  Mountain  boys.  153 

tains,  to  take  note  of  whatever  in  liis  line  of  business  might 
be  on  foot  below,  he  might  have  perceived,  on  looking  down 
from  his  lofty  car,  near  the  close  of  that  day,  movements 
among  the  inhabitants  of  the  particular  section  just  named, 
so  simultaneous,  and  yet  so  apparently  unconcerted,  that  even 
his  godship,  himself,  unless  previously  in  the  secret,  would 
have  been  sadly  puzzled  to  decide  in  what  manner  to  account 
for  them.  Nearly  every  man  could  have  been  seen  leaving 
his  home  for  some  point  not  far  to  the  south  of  those  falls 
on  Otter  Creek,  around  which  the  flourishing  village  of  Mid- 
dlebury  now  stands.  Though  all  would  have  seemed  gradual- 
ly centering  to  this  spot,  yet  this  would  have  been  the  only 
point  of  agreement  discoverable  in  their  movements,  or  ap- 
parent objects. — Some  carried  axes  on  their  shoulders,  some 
hoes,  or  other  implements  of  husbandr}^,  and  some  had  guns, 
with  which  they  appeared  to  be  amusing  themselves,  as  they 
passed  along,  by  shooting  squirrels,  or  whatever  small  game 
might  fall  in  their  way.  And,  in  no  instance,  were  two  men 
seen  traveling  together;  and,  if  by  chance  any  two  happened 
to  come  across  each  other,  they  immediately  separated,  one 
stopping  till  the  other  had  passed  out  of  sight,  or  both  diverg- 
ing into  different,  though  parallel  routes.  The  exact  point 
of  their  concentration  was  at  length  seen  to  be  an  opening  in 
the  wilderness,  on  a  gentle  swell  of  land,  commanding  a  view 
of  the  devious  Otter  from  its  western  side,  l^ear  the  cen- 
ter of  this  opening  stood  a  log  house  tenanted  by  a  hardy 
and  enterprising  settler,  a  confidential  friend  of  the  master 
spirit  of  this  clandestine  gathering.  A  barn  also  of  the  same 
construction,  and  of  dimensions  ample  enough  to  hold  half 
a  regiment  within  its  walls,  was  standing  some  rods  in  the 
rear  of  the  house.  This  huge  fabric,  as  it  finally  appeared, 
had  been  selected,  both  on  account  of  its  size,  and  the  central 
position  which  it  occupied  in  the  northern  part  of  the  Grants, 
for  the  approaching  meeting  of  the  Green  Mountain  Boys. 
And  as  the  shades  of  evening  began  to  gather  over  the  wil- 
derness, and  individual  objects  grew  indistinct  to  the  view, 
many  a  dark  form  might  be  discovered  emerging,  one  by  one, 
from  every  point  of  the  surrounding  woods  and  stealthily  tak- 
ing their  way  in  silence  towards  the  building  appointed  for 
their  rendezvous. 

But  leaving  this  company  to  finish  their  noiseless  gather- 
ing, we  will  now  recur  to  note  the  adventures  of  one  of  our 


154  THE   GREEN   MOUNTAIN   BOYS. 

heroes  on  his  way  to  the  scene  of  action.  We  speak  in  the 
plural  here,  as  we  do  not  pretend  to  fix  on  an}^  one  of  the  sev- 
eral leading  personages  of  our  story  as  the  particular  hero  of 
the  work. — But  should  the  reader  deem  such  an  one  to  he 
essential  in  the  performance,  we  leave  him  to  make  his  own 
selection  from  all  the  characters  we  have  introduced — a  privi- 
lege to  the  reader,  which,  we  trust,  will  prevent  any  question 
in  his  mind  whether  the  author  himself  has  selected  the  one 
for  this  honor  who  is  the  most  worthy  of  the  appellation: 
and  a  privilege  too,  that  we  the  more  freely  accord,  since  we 
have  often  wished  for  the  same  favor  ourselves,  while  reading 
works  of  this  kind,  and  bored  with  the  everlasting  recurrence 
of  "our  hero,"  applied,  not  unfrequently,  to  the  worst  drawn, 
and  b}^  far  the  most  spiritless  character  in  the  book. 

After  the  separation  of  our  band  in  the  morning,  the  lead- 
ers, as  before  intimated,  were  actively  engaged  through  a  good 
part  of  the  day  in -calling  upon  the  settlers  to  sound  their 
views  and  feelings  in  regard  to  the  approaching  struggle  be- 
tween the  colonies  and  mother  country,  and  to  apprise  them, 
if  found  right  in  sentiments,  and  ripe  for  action,  as  was  gen- 
erally the  case,  of  the  contemplated  meeting,  and  the  precau- 
tions deemed  important  to  be  observed  in  conducting  it. 

Warrington,  having  performed  the  task  allotted  to  him  as 
his  share  of  the  delicate,  and  sometimes  difficult  duty,  set 
out,  late  in  the  afternoon,  for  the  appointed  rendezvous  of 
the  evening.  After  leaving  the  vicinity  of  the  lake,  to  the 
borders  of  which  his  duties  had  been  principally  confined,  he 
soon  entered  the  woods,  and  having  decided  on  the  course 
to  be  taken,  proceeded  onward  with  a  rapid  step  several  miles 
towards  his  destination  without  pausing."  But  at  length  feel- 
ing somewhat  wearied  with  the  exertions  of  the  day,  he  sat 
down  to  rest  him,  for  a  few  moments,  on  the  trunk  of  a  fallen 
tree,  and  was  dreamily  running  over  in  his  mind  the  singular 
events  of  the  past  few  days,  when  his  attention  was  arrested 
by  a  clicking  sound,  resembling  that  which  attends  the  cock- 
ing of  a  musket.  While  looking  around  him  in  doubt  whether 
his  senses  had  not  deceived  him,  in  respect  to  the  impression 
they  conveyed  of  the  sound,  he  distinctly  heard  the  snapping 
of  a  fire-lock  in  a  thicket  at  no  great  distance  from  the  spot 
he  occupied.  Springing  upon  his  feet,  he  brought  his  own 
rifle  to  his  shoulder,  and,  stepping  behind  a  tree,  awaited  in 
silence  the  result,,  which,  he  supposed,  whatever  the  cause 


THE   GREEN   MOUNTAIN   BOYS.  155 

of  the  movement,  would  soon  be  disclosed.  But  hearing  noth- 
ing further,  and  concluding  that  the  sound  came  from  some 
hunter,  who,  having  gained  sight  of  game,  and  snapping  his 
piece  at  it,  had  noiselessly  crept  off  after  it  in  another  direc- 
tion, he  thought  hut  little  more  on  the  subject  at  this  time, 
and  soon  leisurely  proceeded  on  his  way.  The  walk  of  half 
a  mile  now  brought  him  to  that  dead  and  desolate  stream, 
whose  name,  at  the  present  day,  "Lemon  Fair,"  has  so  often 
proved  a  puzzler  to  the  stranger  traversing  this  section  of 
the  country,  and  led  him  to  ask  the  cause  of  so  singular  an  ap- 
pellation. The  explanation  that  follows,  however,  reconciles 
the  apparent  incongruity  in  a  way  as  simple  and  curious  as  it 
is  generally  unexpected.  And  the  inquirer  is  soon  enabled  to 
trace  this  before  unaccountable  name,  from  "Lemon  Fair,^' 
through  "Lamen  Fair,^'  to  the  lamentable  affair!  which  is 
said  to  have  burst  from  the  agonized  bosom  of  a  traveler,  who 
once,  in  attempting  to  ford  the  stream,  was  doomed  to  the 
pain  of  witnessing  his  noble  steed  become  inextricably  mired, 
and,  sinking  deeper  and  deeper  at  every  effort  to  clear  him- 
self, finally  disappear  with  fearful  death-struggles,  in  the  bot- 
tomless quags  of  this  Styx  of  Vermontane  rivers.  Warrington 
here  paused  to  note  the  air  of  peculiar  dreariness  and  gloom, 
which,  even  at  this  day,  seems  to  brood  over  this  paradise  of 
eels  and  owls — ^the  former  finding  their  Elysium  in  the  stag- 
nant, muddy  and  root-tangled  pools  of  the  stream,  and  the  lat- 
ter on  the  decayed  iimbs  of  the  long  colonnade  of  dead  and 
.  leafless  trees  lining  the  banks,  where  they  sit  moping  and 
gloating  over  their  inexhaustible  storehouse  of  countless  rep- 
tiles swarming  in  the  dark  and  turbid  waters  beneath.  And 
while  standing  upon  the  banks  of  this  stream,  with  his  mind 
thus  engrossed,  he  was  startled  by  +Le  sharp  report  of  a  rifle, 
bursting  from-  a  fallen  tree-top  on  a  knoll  at  the  distance  of 
some  eight  or  ten  rods  behind  him;  v/hile  at  the  same  instant, 
a  bullet,  passing  through  his  coat  between  his  arm  and  body, 
struck  and  buried  itself  on  the  dry  and  barkless  surface  of  a 
tree,  standing  a  few  yards  before  him.  Whirling  suddenly 
round  towards  the  covert  from  which  the  shot  issued,  as  now 
plainly  indicated  by  a  light  cloud  of  diffusing  smoke,  he  again 
quickly  brought  his  rifle  to  his  shoulder,  and  stood  for  a  few 
seconds  straining  his  vision  for  a  sight  of  the  invisible  foe. 
But  being  unable  to  discover  any  object  with  such  certainty 
m  would  justify  his  returning  the  fire^  he  suddenly  changed 


156  THE   GREEN   MOUNTAIN   BOYS. 

3iis  purpose,  and  leaped  forward  with  all  possible  speed  to- 
^va^ds^  the  place.  In  one  moment  he  stood  on  the  spot  just 
occupied  by  his  dastard  assailant,  when  he  succeeded  in  catch- 
ing a  glimpse  of  a  dark  form  rapidly  retreating  over  another 
iBwell  into  a  thick  and  tangled  swamp.  His  first  impulse  was 
•to  recommence  the  pursuit;  but  a  second  thought  told  him 
that  it  would  probably  be  in  vain,  while  it  uselessly  exposed 
ijiim  to  the  hazard  of  another  shot  of  his  enemy  from  some 
concealment,  which  he  would  have  time  to  gain  unperceived. 
Jle  therefore  reluctantly  turned  and  retraced  his  steps  to  the 
stream  he  had  just  left. 

^  From  the  form  and  motions  of  the  assassin,  although  in  a 
disguised  dress,  Warrington  was  but  little  at  loss  in  identify- 
ing him  with  Darrow,  whom  he  had  twice  met  and  as  often 
frustrated  in  his  base,  or,  to  say  the  least,  very  questionable 
designs.  And  coupling  the  improbability  that  the  fellow  was 
■acting  from  his  own  promptings  in  his  murderous  attempt, 
"with  the  friendly  hints  of  Miss  Hendee,  he  no  longer  doubted 
ihat  Sherwood  was  indeed  bent  on  his  destruction,  and  find- 
ing a  willing  instrument  in  Darrow,  had  instigated  this 
method  of  accomplishing  it.  But  abandoning  all  thoughts  of 
any  measures  to  punish,  or  circumvent,  either  the  base  tool, 
or  his  still  more  dastard  employer,  till  his  public  duties  should 
allow  him  more  leisure,  he  now  hastily  crossed  the  stream, 
and  proceeded  with  rapid  steps  towards  the  rendezvous  of 
his  assembling  companions,  which  he  only  reached  just  as 
the  last  glimmerings  of  departing  daylight  were  fading  in  the 
western  horizon. 

"Charles,  how  is  this!"  exclaimed  Colonel  Allen,  breaking 
away,  as  soon  as  he  noticed  Warrington's  arrival,  from  a  group 
of  several  of  the  most  influential  settlers  in  the  vicinity,  with 
"whom  he  appeared  to  have  been  engaged  in  a  Ioav  confidential 
conversation,  "how  is  this,  that  you  are  the  last  mian  to  come 
on  the  ground?  Why,  I  thought  the  devil  had  got  you,  or, 
■what  is  the  same  thing  in  Dutch,  that  you  had  gone  over  to 
the  British,  to  apprise  them  of  our  project.  But,  come,  sir, 
as  I  suppose  we  must  allow  you  the  credit  of  having  done 
rather  better  than  that,  I  have  concluded  to  make  you  my 
right  hand  man  for  the  evening.    So  now  for  business." 

"In  that  ease.  Colonel."  replied  the  other,  "let  me  suggest 
to  you  the  precaution  of  placing  a  few  sentinels  around  us, 
while  in  convention.     There  may  be  those  abroad  to-night. 


THE    GREEN    MOUNTAIN    BOYS.  157 

who,  if  permitted  to  look  in  upon  us  liere,  would  render 
our  enterprise  as  vain  as  the  crusades.  Were  it  not  too  dark, 
I  would  show  you  a  hole  in  my  coat,  through  which  one  of 
these  prowlers  a  few  miles  back,  by  a  small  mistake,  put  a 
bullet,  instead  of  through  my  heart,  as  evidently  intended." 

"God  bless  you,  Charles,  what  do  you  mean?"  asked  Allen, 
with  surprise  and  emotion. 

"I  mean  as  I  say." 

"But  who  could  it  be?" 

"That  despicable  sergeant,  instigated  by  Sherwood,  I  sus- 
pect." 

"And  what  was  you  about  not  to  return  the  compliment  on 
the  spot?" 

"He  escaped  me  in  a  thicket,  and  I  had  not  time  to  spend 
in  the  cautious  pursuit  which  would  be  safe  or  successful — 
would  to  heaven  I  could  have  had  more  leisure!" 

"Well,  by  the  blessing  of  God,  Charles,  within  a  week,  we 
will  have  our  heels  on  that  nest  of  rattlesnakes.  But  it  is 
time  to  organize.  You  were  right  about  a  guard — will  you 
attend  to  placing  it,  wliile  I  assemble  the  company  in  the  barn, 
and  see  that  each  has  the  watchword?" 

Allen  now  ordered  lights  to  be  brought,  and  placing  him- 
self at  the  door  of  the  building,  he  called  to  the  company  to 
advance  and  enter  singly.  Each  man  as  he  presented  himself, 
and  before  suffered  to  pass  in,  was  strictly  required  to  give 
the  watchword,  which,  as  a  precautionary  measure  to  prevent 
any  one  being  present  whose  views  had  not  been  previously 
ascertained,  had  been  confidentially  imparted  by  Allen  and  his 
associate  leaders  since  the  meeting  was  in  agitation.  The 
word  chosen  for  this  purpose  was  Carillon,  an  appellation  by 
which  fort  Ticonderoga  was  designated  by  the  French  while 
in  the  possession  of  their  government.  After  every  man 
had  passed  this  test  of  admittance^  and  thus  proved  himself 
entitled  to  mingle  in  the  deliberations  of  the  assembly.  Col. 
Allen  called  the  meeting  to  order,  and,  after  stating  that 
important  business  was  in  contemplation,  the  successful  re- 
sult of  which  might  depend  on  the  secrecy  with  which  it  was 
conducted,  proposed  a  sort  of  oath  or  affirmation,  binding  all 
present  by  a  solemn  promise  not  to  divulge  the  proceedings 
of  this  meeting,  and  its  consequent  measures,  till  the  reasons, 
which  made  secrec}^  necessary,  should  cease  to  exist.  This 
proposition  was  acceded  to  and  the   oath  taken  by  rising. 


158  THE    GREEN    MOUNTAIN    BOYS. 

Allen  then,  as  the  acting  chairman  of  the  assemblage,  de- 
clared the  meeting  open  for  remarks  on  the  subject  which 
they  had  met  to  discuss. 

The  dead  silence,  which  was  now  for  a  few  moments  ob- 
served by  the  expectant  assembly,  was  broken  by  Warrington, 
who,  calmly  rising,  proceeded,  after  a  few  preliminary  obser- 
vations, to  give  a  brief  liistory  of  the  commencement  and 
progress  of  the  quarrel  between  the  colonies  and  mother 
country.  He  then  enumerated  the  wrongs  and  aggressions 
which  the  former  had  suffered,  while  meekly  and  vainly  peti- 
tioning for  redress,  and  closed  by  a  vivid  picture  of  the  re- 
cent massacre  at  Lexington,  and  with  an  eloquent  appeal  to 
the  settlers  to  join  the  inhabitants  of  the  sister  colonies  in 
avenging  the  death  of  their  slaughtered  countrymen. 

As  he  closed  his  harangue,  which  had  been  listened  to  with 
the  most  profound  attention,  a  visible  excitement  ran  tlirough 
the  assembly.  And' the  hasty  changing  of  positions,  as  they 
sat  upon  their  rude  plank  seats  ranged  in  rows  round  a  small 
table,  on  which  dimly  burned  a  small  taper,  the  glistening  eye, 
the  indignant  glance,  the  firmly  compressed  hp,  and  the  silent 
working  of  the  muscles  of  the  faces  of  these  hardy  moun- 
taineers, plainly  told  the  speaker  that  he  had  been  addressing 
men  who  neither  lacked  the  intelligence  to  comprehend,  nor 
the  spirit  to  act,  as  soon  as  a  definite  object  for  action  was  set 
before  them. 

Eemember  Baker,  one  of  the  most  shrewd,  sagacious,  and 
coolly  calculating  men  of  the  settlement,  next  arose  and  ad- 
dressed the  meeting.  With  a  few  observations,  for  he  was  not 
a  man  of  many  words,  going  to  confirm  the  statements,  and 
fortify  the  positions  of  Warrington,  he  told  them,  that  al- 
though he  doubted  not  in  the  least,  that  principle  alone  with 
them  would  be  sufficient  to  excite  them  to  action  in  the  com- 
ing contest,  yet  their  policy,  as  settlers  engaged  in  a  con- 
troversy with  ISTew  York  for  their  homes  and  property,  de- 
manded that  they  should  take  a  bold  and  decided  stand 
against  the  British;  for  by  doing  this  they  would  at  once 
enlist  the  sympathies  of  the  other  colonies  in  regard  to  their 
wrongs,  draw  upon  themselves  the  attention  and  respect  of 
Congress,  to  which,  if  backed  by  the  consideration  of  a  meri- 
torious service  in  the  common  cause  of  the  country,  they 
could  successfully  appeal  for  protection  against  the  aggres- 
sions of  Xew  York,  and  thus  place  themselves  in  an  attitude 


THE    GREEN    MOUNTAIN    BOYS.  159 

in  which  they  could  not  only  command  justice,  but  finally 
secure  the  privilege  of  becoming  an  independent  State. 

"^Member  is  right!"  exclaimed  one  of  that  class  with 
whom  this  artful,  and  as  the  event  afterwards  proved,  by  no 
means  illgrounded  argument,  was  calculated  to  operate  with 
particular  force. 

"Ay,  ay!"  responded  another,  "give  me  'Member  Baker  for 
foresight!  The  more  birds  we  can  kill  with  one  stone  the 
better." 

Although  the  argument  of  Baker  was  not  probably  without 
its  effect  on  the  minds  of  all,  situated  as  the  settlers  were  with 
respect  to  their  controverted  rights,  and  when  added  to  the 
manly  appeal  of  Warrington  to  their  patriotism  and  prin- 
ciples, had  wrought  up  the  assembly  to  a  high  pitch  of  feel- 
ing, yet  Allen,  conceiving  that  something  more  was  needed 
to  ripen  them  for  action,  and  raise  their  minds,  as  he  was 
desirous  of  doing,  to  a  level  with  his  own  high-toned  en- 
thusiasm, now  rose,  and,  after  looking  for  a  moment  fearless- 
ly and  confidently  around  him,  as  he  stood  towering  with  his 
giant  form,  like  Saul  among  the  people,  began, — 

"Men  of  the  Green  Mountains, — 

"In  the  struggle  in  which  you  have  been  for  many  years 
engaged,  you  have  won  among  the  people  of  these  colonies 
a  name  for  valor  and  patriotism.  But  have  you  gained  this 
proud  distinction  in  surmounting  the  difficulties  of  the  past, 
to  lose  it  now  by  inaction  in  the  more  important  stake  of  the 
present?  Have  you  so  long,  so  nobly,  so  triumphantly,  re- 
sisted arbitrary  power  in  the  shape  of  little  tyrants  near  home, 
to  submit  now  to  the  lawless  dictations  of  great  ones  from 
abroad?  Are  you,  who  have  just  saved  your  homes  and  pos- 
sessions from  the  grasp  of  these,  now  willing  to  yield  them 
tamely  to  those? — -to  those  whose  despotic  dominion  would 
soon  render  them  but  possessions  in  name,  to  be  transmitted 
to  whom?  to  whom  I  say? — To  slaves  in  the  persons  of  your 
own  children!  Yes,  your  own  children,  who,  if  sufi^ered  to 
retain  their  inheritance  at  all,  must  retain  it  with  a  foot  of 
a  lord  on  their  necks,  and  the  hand  of  a  priest  in  their  pockets! 
Green  Mountain  Boys!  could  you,  who  have  drank  in  liberty, 
from  the  very  air  of  your  green  hills,  never  yet  contaminated 
by  the  breath  of  a  tyrant,  could  you  witness  this  and  live? 
x\nd  above  all,  can  you  now  look  idly  on,  and  see  a  hireling 
soldiery  swarming  your  country,  enforcing  the  accursed  re- 
11 


160  THE   GREEN    MOUNTAIN   BOYS. 

qiiisitions  of  their  masters  at  the  point  of  the  bayonet^  shoot- 
ing down  3^our  countrymen  and  brothers  by  scores,  as  if  they 
were  wild  beasts,  for  exercising  bnt  the  rights  which  G-od  and 
nature  have  given  them — as  yon  look  upon  a  scene  like  this, 
and  lift  no  hand  for  your  rights? — strike  no  blow  to  avenge 
the  cold  blooded  murder  of  your  countrymen  at  Lexington? 
Great  God,  forbid;  No!  no!  my  brave  mountaineers,  you 
were  never  born  to  be  cringing  slaves!  Your  bold  hearts  and 
sinewy  arms  were  never  made  to  be  listless  and  idle  at  a  time 
like  this!  Come,  then,  come  on!  follow  me,  whose  heart  is 
laboring  and  leaping  for  the  work  of  vengeance,  and  whose 
arm  is  nerved  and  aching  for  the  blow!  Follow  me,  and  I  will 
lead  you  to  deeds,  which  shall  cover  the  Green  Mountain 
Boys  with  imperishable  glor}^,  and  make  their  name  the  watch- 
word of  liberty,  while  a  t3Tant  shall  remain  to  disgrace  the 
image  of  God,  or  pollute  the  earth  with  his  presence." 

During  the  delivery  of  this  brief  and  exciting  appeal,  the 
expectant  audience  at  first  sat  in  their  seats  as  silent  and 
motionless  as  a  group  of  statues.  Before  the  speaker  had 
proceeded  through  many  sentences,  how^ever,  the  whole  com- 
pany had  noiselessly  risen  in  their  places,  where  they  stood 
as  if  spellbound  in  their  tracks,  every  head  eagerly  bent 
forward,  and  every  eye,  gleaming  with  the  kindling  fire  within, 
rivited  upon  their  idolized  leader,  to  catch  the  bold  and  in- 
spiriting thoughts  that  fell  burning  from  his  lips,  now  with 
looks  of  fire  and  scorn,  and  now  with  the  intonations  of 
thunder.  And  as  he  went  on,  rising  in  energy  and  power  at 
every  sentence,  eyes  were  seen  to  flash  brighter  and  brighter 
with  indignation,  tears  of  excited  and  overflowing  feeling  to 
gush  over  many  a  rough  cheek,  while  many  a  clenched  and 
brawny  fist  was  branclished  aloft,  in  mute  response  to  the 
heart-stirring  words  of  the  speaker.  And  when  he  closed, 
"Ethan  Allen,  forever!  Ethan  Allen,  forever!"  rose  in  one 
loud  convulsive  shout  to  heaven. 

All  being  now  ripe  for  action,  and  many  loudly  demanding 
the  object  which  might  immediately  require  their  services, 
Allen  laid  before  them  the  project  of  marching  at  once  upon 
the  British  forts  at  Ticonderoga  and  Crown  Point,  with  the 
object  of  surprising  and  capturing  these  two  important  though 
now  weakly  garrisoned  fortresses.  The  settlers  being  in  gen- 
eral well  apprised  of  the  state  of  these  garrisons,  and  enter- 
ing with  great  zeal  into  the  views  of  their  leaders  respecting 


THE   GREEN   MOUNTAIN   BOYS.  161 

the  importance  and  feasibility  of  the  proposed  plan,  the  latter 
now  made  a  call  for  volunteers,  and  immediately  commenced 
an  enrollment  of  names,  which,  when  completed,  was  found, 
to  the  joy  and  surprise  of  Allen  and  his  colleagues,  to  em- 
brace more  than  three-fourths  of  the  assemblage  now  present, 
while  even  the  rest  expressed  an  earnest  wish  to  aid  in  the 
enterprise  so  far  as  it  could  be  done  without  leaving  the 
neighborhood  of  their  homes,  where  their  presence  was  de- 
manded. All  necessary  measures  preparatory  to  the  expedi- 
tion, as  far  as  regarded  the  forces  raised  in  this  section  of 
the  Grants,  were  then  discussed  and  settled,  and  a  sufficient 
number  of  men  were  selected  to  guard  every  road  by  which 
any  information  of  the  contemplated  movement  could  be  con- 
veyed to  the  enemy.  These  were  ordered  to  enter  upon  their 
duties  the  next  day;  while  the  main  body  were  to  equip,  and 
otherwise  prepare  themselves  in  the  best  manner  the  circum-' 
stances  would  admit,  and  assemble  at  Castleton  on  the  fourth 
day  from  the  present  time.  x\fter  these  arrangements  were 
completed,  Allen  ordered  his  horse  to  be  brought  to  the  door, 
and  announced  his  intention  of  departing  that  night  for  the 
south  part  of  the  settlement,  to  superintend  the  mustering 
of  the  forces  enlisting,  or  enlisted,  in  that  quarter. 

^^Well,  my  brave  boys,"  said  the  Colonel,  mounting  his 
horse,  while  his  devoted  followers  were  crowding  around  him, 
"remember  to  meet  me  at  Castleton  on  the  8th.  Captain 
Warrington  and  'Lieutenant  Selden  will  muster  and  take 
charge  of  you.  Captain  Baker  goes  to  Winooski  river  to  raise 
w^hat  force  he  can  there,  and  come  in  boats  to  join  us  on  the 
lake.  As  to  myself,  before  to-morrow's  sunset  I  must  be  at 
Holy  Hill.*  And  now,  my  fine  fellows,  go  home,  and  pre- 
pare yourselves,  without  letting  your  left  hands  know  what 
your  right  are  doing,  and  may  the  Lord  bless  you  all  till  I 
see  you  again." 

So  saying,  and  putting  spurs  to  his  horse,  he  rushed  down 
the  road  to  the  south  and  disappeared. 

*  An  appellation  by  whicli  Ethan  Allen  was  in  the  hahit  of  call- 
ing Bennington. 


U 


162  THE   GREEN   MOUNTAIN   BOYS, 


CHAPTEE  Xy. 


'Now  be  thou  strong!    Oh!    knew  we  not 
Our  path  must  lead  to  this? 
A  shadow  and  a  trembling  still 
Were  mingled  with  our  bliss!" 


The  following  epistle  from  Miss  Hendee  to  Miss  Eeed,  in 
answer  to  the  one  from  the  latter,  inserted  in  a  previous 
chapter  was  written  in  the  interval  between  the  meeting  of 
the  Green  Mountain  Boys  last  described,  and  the  general 
mustering  of  their  forces  for  their  contemplated  enterprise: 

Forgive  me,  dear  Jessy,  but  really  I  could  not  help 
laughing,  on  the  receipt  and  perusal  of  your  vivacious,  and 
very  interesting  letter,  to  see  the  desperate  attempts  you  there 
repeatedly  make  to  conceal  from  me,  and  yourself,  by  naked, 
unmasked  assertions,  and  inferences  without  premises,  the 
heart-hidden  secret  which  your  every  third  sentence,  at  least, 
most  palpably  discloses.  Yes,  my  lady,  whether  you  believe 
it  or  not,  yourself,  you  are  but  little  better  than  a  gone  girl, 
and  your  doughty  major  will  find  it  out,  too,  as  sure  as 
Jealousy  has  eyes,  and  Love  none.  But  never  mind  it,  my 
dear  girl,  nor  turn  up  that  pretty  slender  nose  in  a  miff  at 
what  I  say,  since  the  same  letter  that  gives  you  cause  of  dis- 
pleasure, if  cause  there  be,  will  furnish  you  also  with  the 
means  of  an  smple  revenge:  for  I,  too,  have  adventures  to  re- 
late, of  the  past  week's  occurrence,  scarcely  less  ertraordinary 
than  your  own.  When  you  said,  Jessy,  in  that  little  paren- 
thesis, which  you  threw  into  your  letter  concerning  Warring- 
ton, "A  noble  looking  fellow,  I  wish  you  could  see  him,"  you 
little  thought  that  your  wish  had  been  granted  ere  expressed; 
and  far  less  did  you  dream,  when  you  added,  "I  think  you 
would  like  him,''  how  much  of  a  prophetess  you  was  likely 
to  become;  for  Charles  Warrington  I  have  seen,  Warrington 
the  Green  Mountain  Boy,  AVarrington  the  York  outlaw,  and 
Wnrrins^ton  the  generous,  high-minded,  and,  as  you  truly  say, 
noli!.'  lr'Q]:j]i.g  Icilowl  And  in  what  estiwcition  I  secretl^^  bold 


THE    GREEN    MOUNTAIN    BOYS.  163 

him,  you  will  better  understand,  wlien  I  inform  you,  that  my 
old  acquaintance  Howard,  of  whom  you  have  often  heard 
me  speak,  and  Warrington  are  one  and  the  same  person! 
You  cannot  be  more  surprised  at  this  news  than  I  was,  my- 
self, at  the  discovery.  And  not  small  was  the  confusion  of 
thought  and  feeling  I  experienced  at  first,  I  confess,  in  rec- 
onciling the  warring  conceptions  I  had  previously  entertained 
of  these  two,  as  I  supposed  them,  different,  and  almost 
diametrically  opposite  characters.  In  this,  however,  I  have 
at  length  succeeded,  and  even  to  that  degree  that  I  cannot 
but  feel,  that  the  character  of  Howard,  pure  and  exalted  as 
1  ever  thought  it,  receives  an  additional  luster  from  the  noble 
and  disinterested  part  he  has  taken  in  behalf  of  these  poor, 
and  as  I  am  nov/  satisfied,  unjustly  treated  settlers. 

And  with  this  avowal  of  opinion,  you  will  of  course  under- 
stand that  I  think  none  the  worse  of  him  for  being  a  New 
York  outlaw. 

We  have  had  three  interviews.  The  two  first  I  must  pass 
over  lightly,  as  I  have  much  of  a  more  interesting  character 
to  communicate.  I  first  encountered  Warrington  in  the 
border  of  the  Vv^oods  adjoining  our  opening,  where  I  wandered, 
a  fatalist  would  think,  but  to  be  frightened  by  the  question- 
able appearance  of  a  sergeant  from  the  fort,  and  to  be  re- 
lieved by  the  opportune  arrival  of  my  knight-errant  Green 
Mountain  Boy.  Our  next  meeting  was  at  our  house,  where, 
in  the  course  of  the  evening,  he  made  known  to  me  for  the 
first  time  the  identify  of  which  I  have  spoken,  and  where  also 
he  came  near  being  seized  by  tliis  same  sergeant  and  his 
soldiers,  who,  I  feel  sure,  came  here  for  no  other  purpose, 
being  prompted  by  the  reward,  and  instigated,  as  I  cannot 
but  suspect,  by  one  who  shall  be  nameless.  But  Warrington 
and  another  of  the  leaders  of  the  Green  Mountain  Boys,  wdio 
happened  here  that  evening,  and  who,  by  the  way,  was  a  most 
extraordinary  man,  fairly  out-generaled  their  mercenary  en- 
emies, and,  by  a  little  favoring  from  a  quarter  which  you  are 
at  liberty  to  guess  at,  both  luckily  made  their  escape.  Our 
last  interview  has  been  to-day,  and  a  most  important  one, 
too,  I  fear  it  may  prove,  to  the  destinies  of  your  perplexed, 
and  in  some  respects  truly  unhappy  friend.  But  before  en- 
tering upon  particulars,  I  must  recur  to  some  events  which 
transpired  in  the  interim.  The  next  day  after  W.'s  visit  and 
fortunate  escape,  Sherwood  came  here,  and  raised  a  storm  in 


164  THE   GREEN    MOUNTAIN    BOYS. 

our  quiet  famil}^,  wliicli  lias  not  3^et  wholly  ceased  raging. 
It  seems  this  sagacious  lover  of  mine  who  has  often  heard  my 
father  recount  the  Samaritan  kindness  of  Howard,  and  per- 
haps suspected  my  own  secret  partialities,  had  discovered,  by 
worming  himself  into  the   confidence   of  the  settlers,  that 
Howard  and  Warrington  were  the  same,  but,  for  reasons  of 
his  own,  had  kept  the  discovery  entirely  to  himself,  though 
he  had  been  for  several  months  in  ]oossession  of  the  secret. 
It  appears  also,  that  he  had  been  apprised  of  each  of  my  in- 
terviews with  Warrington.     And  coming  armed  with  all  this 
annihilating  array  of  facts,  as  he  believed  it,  he  without  say- 
ing a  word  to  me,  called  my  father  aside,  and  poured  the 
whole  story  into  his  ears,  with  such  additions  and  embellish- 
ments as  he  conceived  would  best  subserve  his  purpose, — the 
amount  of  which  was,  as  near  as  I  could  gather,  that  my 
father  had  been  harboring  a  branded  villain,  who,  in  the  guise 
of  a  gentleman,  .had  been  aiming  at  the  seduction  of  his 
daughter,  and  the  eventual  seizure  of  his  possessions.    Trem- 
bling from  head  to  foot  with  uncontrollable  rage,  my  father 
immediately  hastened  to  my  apartment.    I  v,411  not,  I  cannot 
even  attempt  a  description  of  the  painful  scene  that  followed. 
You  are  not  unacquainted  with  my  father's  unfortunate  in- 
firmities of  temper.     You  can,  therefore,  in  some  measure 
fancy,  perhaps,  how  he  would  feel  and  act  under  such  a  rep- 
resentation of  things,  so  nearly  affecting  his  wishes  and  in- 
terests—a representation  in  which  fact  and  falsehood  were 
so  artfully  blended,  that  a  much  cooler  temperament,  under 
the   circumstances,   might   have   been   thus   wrought   up   to 
anger.     He  swore  and  wept  alternately.     I  wept  freely  also, 
but  only  at  witnessing  his  distress,  and  at  the  thought  of 
ni}"  own  luckless  destiny,  which  had  placed  m.e  in  a  situation 
where  I  must  sacrifice  my  own  happiness  for  life,  or  prob- 
ably be  the  means  of  destroying  that  of  a  parent,  who,  with 
all  his  faults,  is  still  dear  to  my  heart.    I  said  but  little,  how- 
ever.    Delicacy,  as  well  as  prudence,  forbade  my  disclosing 
the  state  of  my  feelings.     And  as  to  all  other  charges,  I 
could  only  assert  my  innocence,  for  I  had  then  given  Mr.  W. 
scarce  a  word  of  encouragement. 

After  my  father  had  exhnusted  his  store  of  reproaches 
upon  my  poor  head  and  left  me,  Sherwood  entered  and  took 
up  the  discourvSe.  I  could  not  but  feel  amused,  in  spite  of  my 
indignation  and  contempt  at  his  despicable  course,  to  see 


THE   GREEN    MOUNTAIN    BOYS.  165 

all  the  doubling  and  sliiftings  lie  went  through  in  his  des- 
perate attempts  to  regain  my  favor^  which  my  manner  prob- 
ably pretty  plainly  told  him  he  had  put  in  considerable 
hazard.  After  protesting^  flattering,  apologizing,  and  arguing, 
with  the  sycophancy  of  a  Frenchman  and  the  sophistry  of  a 
Jesuit,  he  finally  departed,  leaving  me  to  myself,  and  that 
negative  happiness  which  his  absence  has  not  very  lately  failed 
to  afford  me. 

The  next  morning  I  reminded  my  father,  whose  madness 
seemed  to  have  something  more  of  method  in  it  than  the  day 
before,  of  a  visit  which  had  a  few  days  previous  been  pro- 
jected at  his  own  suggestion.  This  was  a  ride,  on  horseback, 
to  Otter  Creek  to  carry  a  few  necessaries  to  a  distant  relative 
of  ours,  Aunt  Story,  as  we  call  her,  whose  curious  subterran- 
eous abode  I  have  before  described  to  you,  I  believe.  No 
serious  objection  being  made  to  the  proposal,  I  accordingly 
set  out  with  Neshobee,  my  usual  attendant  on  these  excur- 
sions, who,  on  another  horse,  accompanied  me  in  the  capacity 
of  baggage  man  and  squire.  We  had  a  pleasant  ride,  and  ar- 
rived without  any  particular  adventure  at  the  Creek,  opposite 
her  wood-begirt  residence.  0,  how  delightful  is  a  morning 
ride  at  this  season  of  the  year  through  these  flowering  forests! 
How  fragrant  the  viewless  odors  that  regale  your  senses  at 
almost  every  step!  And,  in  the  present  instance,  as  you  near 
the  Green  Mountains,  how  pure  and  invigorating  the  breezes 
that,  seemingly  uncontaminated  by  a  contact  with  earth,  come 
wafting  down  their  dark  sides  fresh  from  the  mid-heavens! 
I  never  approach  these  green-hilled  monuments  of  sylvan 
magnificence,  but  my  physical  powers  receive  an  impulse,  and 
my  moral  nature  becomes  sensibly  exalted.  jSTo  wonder  the 
Green  Mountain  Boys  should  be  men  of  such  high-toned 
character! 

On  reaching  the  banks  of  the  Creek,  Neshobee  set  up  his 
shrill  whoop  (not  war  whoop)  to  make  known  our  arrival  to 
this  fearless  woman  of  the  woods.  This  being  heard  and  un- 
derstood by  her,  she  quickly  made  her  appearance,  came 
across  with  her  boat,  and  ferried  us  all  safe  over  the  stream, 
our  horses  having  been  left  tied  to  saplings  on  the  bank  be- 
hind. 

I  must  not  stop  to  describe  the  cordial  reception  I  met  with, 
as  I  always  do  in  this  singular,  yet  interesting  family;  nor 
my   romp   with   the   curlv  headed  brood   of  children,   that 


166  THE    GREEN    MOUNTAIN    BOYS. 

thronged  around  me^  ca23enng  in  wild  glee  at  my  arrival^  and 
their  eyes  fairly  sparkling  with  joy  and  gratitude  at  the  sight 
of  the  tit-bits  I  had  brought  them.  After  the  rumpus  and 
romping  with  the  joyous  little  creatures  had  somewhat  sub- 
sided, I  took  the  bright-eyed  and  lisping  little  Julia,  in  my 
lap;  when  the  pretty  rogue  immediately  clambered  up,  and 
putting  her  arms  around  my  neck,  in  the  sweet,  pleading,  and 
playful  tones  of  infantile  eloquence  exclaimed. 

"Now,  Couthin  Alma,  mayn^t  I  kith  you  again? — there, 
I  did!  I  will  again!  There!  ha!  ha!  ISTow  I  have  kithed  you 
ath  many  timetli  ath  I  did  the  Young  Captain.'^ 

"And  who,  pray,  my  pretty  one,"  said  I  quite  innocently, 
"who  is  this  Young  Captain  with  whom  you  appear  to  have 
been  so  familiar?'^ 

"0,  he  ith  the  Young  Captain,"  replied  she,  hesitating  in 
her  childish  simplicity  how  to  define  her  favorite  by  any  other 
appellation  than  the  one  by  vdiich  she  had  been  accustomed 
to  hear  him  called:  "he  ith — he  ith  a  good  Young  Captain. 
I  kithed  him  three  timeth.  And  wouldn't  you  kith  him  too, 
Couthin  Alma,  if  he'd  let  you?  Wouldn't  the  Young  Captain 
let  Couthin  Alma  kith  him,  ma?" 

Puzzled  and  confused,  at  I  scarcely  knew  what,  I  turned  to 
the  mother  for  an  explanation;  when  to  my  still  greater  con- 
fusion, I  beheld  her  holding  her  sides,  while  her  eyes  were 
fairly  dancing  in  the  bright  tears  of  suppressed  risibility,  to 
which  she  now  gave  way  in  a  right  hearty  fit  of  laughter. 

"Excuse  me.  Alma,"  said  she,  as  soon  as  she  could  com- 
mand her  merry  emotions  sufficiently  to  speak;  "excuse  me 
for  laughing  at  the  child's  ludicrous  introduction  of  a  subject, 
which  I  was  at  the  very  moment  thinking  how  I  could  my- 
self break  to  you.  The  Young  Captain,  as  some  of  the  set- 
tlers call  him,  is  no  other  than  the  well  known  leader  of  one 
of  the  bands  of  the  Green  Mountain  Boys,  Charles  Warring- 
ton. Why,  bless  me!"  she  continued,  with  a  look  of  surprise 
as  she  now  lifted  her  eyes  from  her  work  to  my  features, 
"What  ails  you,  Alma?  Why,  your  face  is  as  red — oh! — ah! 
— aha! — you  knew  all  this  before,  did  you!  And  you  have 
seen  him  yourself,  you  rogue?"  she  added  mischievously, 
shaking  her  finger  at  me,  and  fixing  her  keen  eyes  on  my  face; 
"You  have,  Alma,  and  you  need  not  attempt  to  deny  it." 

"I  have  not  deniod  it,  aunt — have  I?"  I  replied,  rallying  as 
well  as  I  could. 


THE    GREEN    MOUNTAIN    BOYS.  167 

^'Well;,  now,  Alma  Hendee,"  she  rejoined,  with  a  gratified 
and  serious  air,  "I  have  not  heard  anything  this  long  while 
that  has  done  me  more  good  than  this  news.  Indeed,  for  the 
past  week  in  particular,  I  have  actually  prayed  that  you  might 
meet  him,  though  I  dared  not  he  the  means  of  bringing  it 
a.bout.  And  the  reason  why  I  wished  it  is,  because  I  think  so 
much  of  the  man,  and  feel  such  an  interest  in  the  cause  which 
he  has  done  so  much  to  sustain;  and,  also,  because  I  knew 
that  you,  from  your  intercourse  and  connection  with  the 
York  party,  and  from  your  hearing,  as  you  naturally  would, 
nothing  but  slander  and  misrepresentation  of  the  man,  and 
curses  on  the  cause  in  which  he  has  been  so  nobly  engaged, 
that  you,  I  say,  must  have  almost  necessarily  imbibed  wholly 
erroneous  opinions  of  both  him  and  his  cause — now,  has  it 
not  been  so?'' 

"Such,"  I  answered,  "was  once,  I  confess,  too  much  the 
case." 

"T  thought  so,"  she  resumed,  "and  but  for  the  fear  that  I 
might  displease  you, — for  I  never  know  hov/  to  hold  up  when 
I  begin, — and,  perhaps,  be  led  into  a  quarrel  with  your  fiery 
old  father,  who  has  been  so  good  to  me,  I  should,  before  this, 
have  spoken  to  you  on  these  matters.  Whj,  this  same  War- 
rington and  a  party  of  his  followers  were  up  on  Lake  Dun- 
more  the  very  day  you  Avere  last  here,  and  while  you  were 
here  in  the  house  playing  with  the  cliildren,  I  discovered,  as 
I  was  out  to  the  edge  of  the  woods  to  get  cedar  boughs  for  a 
broom,  a  gang  of  "Yorkers  going  in  pursuit  of  them.  Don't 
you  recollect  I  came  in  and  proposed  sending  Neshobee  out 
to  kill  us  a  partridge?" 

I  remembered  it,  and  assented. 

"Well,"  she  continued,  "it  was  for  no  other  purpose  than 
to  despatch  him  to  Yv^arrington  Avith  a  note  that  I  scribbled 
in  that  closet.  ISTeshobee,  I  knew,  was  a  friend  to  the  Cap- 
tain." 

"Keshobee!"  said  I,  in  surprise,  "why,  I  never  heard  him 
so  much  as  utter  the  name!" 

"It  is  true  for  all  that,"  she  rejoined;  "Warrington  once 
did  him  a  service  when  they  happened  to  meet  on  a  hunt, 
and  JSTeshobee,  being  made  acquainted  with  the  other's  sit- 
uation, and  knowing  yours,  has  been  as  prudent  as  he  is 
faithful." 

"But  what  became  of  the  Yorkers?"  I  asked. 


168  THE    GREEN    MOUNTAIN   BOYS. 

"Tlie  Green  Mountain  Boys  tlirew  them  into  the  lake  and 
returned  to  this  neighborhood/^  she  answered.  "The  Cap- 
tain and  his  Lieutenant  came  and  slept  that  very  night  in 
this  house^  and  were  here  asleep  on  the  floor,  when  I  came  up 
to  the  house,  after  helping  you  off  the  next  morning.  Do  5^ou 
remember  singing  us  a  song  that  night,  just  before  going  to 
bed,  and  how  you  were  interrupted  by  a  noise  in  the  woods 
above  us?'^ 

"I  do,  but  what  of  that?"  said  I,  somewhat  startled. 

"Wh}^,  nothing,"  she  replied,  smiling,  "onl^^  Warrington, 
who  rambled  out,  after  his  friend  fell  asleep,  heard  your  per- 
formance." 

"You  astonish  me,  aunt  Story,"  I  replied;  "but  surely  he 
could  not  have  distinguished  my  voice  in  that  under-ground 
abode?" 

"^ot  exactly,"  answered  she,  "and  yet  he  was  strangely  puz- 
zled, and  seemed,  vdien  telling  me  of  the  affair  the  next  morn- 
ing, to  have  some  suspicions  of  the  truth." 

"But  did  you  tell  him  who  it  was?"  I  eagerly  demanded. 

"j^o,  Alma,"  she  said,  "I  kept  your  secret  for  reasons  which 
I  have  before  named,  and  sent  him  off  worse  puzzled  than 
before.  But  how  did  he  introduce  himself — as  Howard,  or  as 
Warrington?  for  that  the  two  were  one  and  the  same,  is  a 
riddle  that  I  guessed  out  long  ago." 

I  told  her  the  circumstances;   after  which  she  resumed. 

"So  you  have  a  hurricane  at  your  house.  Well,  Alma,  let 
it  blow  on,  and  overturn,  till  it  levels  falsehood  and  corruption 
to  the  ground,  and  brings  truth  and  justice  uppermost.  x\nd 
when  that  takes  place,  if  you  will  believe  me,  Jake  Sherwood 
will  be  swept  into  the  gulf  of  infani}^,  where  he  ought  to 
be  now,  instead  of  being  here  among  men,  with  the  preten- 
sions of  a  man,  but  with  the  real  character  of  a  spy  and  hypo- 
crite!" 

"You  are  very  severe,  aunt,"  I  remarked,  not  so  much  of- 
fended, however,  as  I  might  have  been. 

"I  hold,  Alma,"  she  rejoined,  "that  the  boldness  of  a  truth 
is  no  reason  for  suppressing  its  utterance.  Why,  Alma  Hen- 
dee,  whether  you  know  it  or  not, — whether  you  will  beheve 
it  or  not,  it  is  God's  truth,  that  with  all  his  smooth  manners 
nnd  gentlemanly  appearance,  the  heart  of  that  same  Jncol) 
Sherwood  is  as  black  ns  the  outside  of  mv  dinner  pot!" 


THE    GREEN    MOUNTAIN    BOYg.  169 

I  began  to  say  something  which  she  took  for  a  qualified 
assent,  when  cutting  me  short,  she  went  on, — 

"You  know  that  it  is  so,  Alma.  And,  now,  that  you  have 
again  met  with  Warrington,  I  know  where  your  heart  is,  or  I 
should  not  venture  to  say  so  much.  Far  be  it  from  me  ever 
to  interfere  with  matches — matches  that  are  truly  such.. 
But  mis-matches  patched  up  on  earth,  and  accursed  of  heaven, 
I  should  feel  myself  honored  in  being  the  instrument  of  break- 
ing. And  knowing,  as  I  think  I  do,  all  the  motives  and  cir- 
cumstances which  led  you  to  accjuiesce  in  this  entanglement 
with  Sherwood,  and  knowing,  also,  that  a  match  between  you 
would  be  yoking  darkness  to  light,  I  stand  prepared,  as  your 
friend,  acting  in  the  place  of  your  sainted  mother,  now  in 
heaven,' to  advise  you  to  say,  even  in  despite  of  the  favorite 
schemes  of  your  mistaken  and  blinded  father,  to  say  to  Sher- 
wood, as  Peter  said  to  Simon  Magus,  who  would  buy  the 
sacred  gift  with  money,  'Thy  gold  perish  witli,thee!' " 

A  long  conversation  then  ensued  between  us,  in  which  all 
the  information  possessed  by  either,  relative  to  the  York  con- 
troversy, and  the  part  taken  in  the  same  by  Warrington, 
Sherwood,  and  others,  was  mutually  imparted  and  received, 
and  our  opinions  and  feelings  on  these  subjects  freely  ex- 
changed. While  still  engaged  on  this  engrossing  theme,  one 
of  the  children  came  running  into  the  house  with  the  cry, 
"The  Young  Captain  is  coming!  the  Young  Captain  is  com- 
ing!" I  was  struck  dumb  by  this  unexpected  announcement, 
and  so  surprised  and  fluttered,  that,  had  I  been  a  bird,  I  be- 
lieve I  should  have  instantly  clapped  my  wings  and  flown 
away.  But  as  it  w^as,  I  had  nothing  to  do  but  prepare  to  meet 
the  half  dreaded,  half  courted  danger,  as  unconcernedly  as 
possible.  We  had  little  time  allowed  us  for  preparation,  how- 
ever; for  scarce  had  the  announcement  been  made,  before 
Warrington  entered  the  door  attended  by — whom  think  you, 
Jessy?  I  wish  you  could  have  been  there!  In  that  case,  to 
follow  up  that  odd  comparison  of  yours,  the  brisk  little  drum- 
mer in  your  heart  would  have  found  his  match,  I  think,  to 
keep  up  the  accompaniment  with  the  lively  performer  at  work 
in  my  own:  for  Captain  Warrington^s  attendant  was  no  other 
than  your  favored  knight,  the  gay,  witty,  and  handsome  Sel- 
den.  An  hour  spent  in  his  company  was  sufficient  to  make 
me  feel  that  these  flattering  epithets,  and  even  more,  might 
be  justly  applied  to  him.     'Now,  don^t  be  jealous,  girl^  for 


I'^O  THE   GREEN   MOUNTAIN   BOYS. 

though  peculiarly  pleased  with  him  I  certainly  was,  yet  my 
feelings  were  anything  but  those  constituting,  what  we  define 
to  be  that  undefinable  concern,  called  love — no,  no,  not  that, 
but  a  singular  sort  of  flowing  away  of  the  heart  towards  him, 
which  I  can  neither  describe  nor  account  for,  unless  the  solu- 
tion be  found  in  the  prepossessions  of  him*  that  your  letter 
had  implanted. 

We  were  now  summoned  to  dinner,  which  our  free-hearted 
hostess  had  done  her  best  in  preparing  for  us.  The  meal 
itself,  as  you  know  it  must  ha^'C  been,  considering  the  limited 
store  from  wliich  it  had  to  be  prepared,  was  certainly  a  plain 
one.  But  partaken  in  such  company,  how  could  it  be  other 
than  a  delightful  one!  With  me,  it  forcibly  exemplified  the 
proverb  of  the  wise  man,  "Better  is  a  dinner  of  herbs,  where 
love  is,  than  a  stalled  ox  and  hatred  therewith." 

After  dinner,  Warrington,  with  his  peculiar  delicacy  of 
manner,  proposed  a  ramble.  My  tongue  would  have  declined 
the  proposal,  but  my  heart,  rising  in  rebellion,  suppressed  the 
utterance,  and  I,  silently,  and  with  a,- palpitating  bosom,  as- 
sented. All  seemed  to  understand  the  object  of  our  walk,  and 
no  one,  not  even  a  child,  offered  to  accompany  us.  I  felt, 
indeed,  myself,  that  my  destiny  for  life  hung  on  the  events  of 
that  hour.  We  proceeded  in  almost  unbroken  silence  to  the 
bank  of  the  river,  when  I  soon  found  myself  seated,  I  scarcely 
know  how,  by  his  side,  upon  a  flowery  hillock.  The  quiet  wa- 
ters, sparkling  in  the  rays  of  the  meridian  sun,  were  gently 
gliding  along  in  soft  murmurs  at  our  feet;  while  a  spreading 
thorn  tree,  loaded  with  blossoms  of  snowy  whiteness,  and 
filling  the  air  with  delicious  fragrance,  formed  the  canopy  for 
our  heads.  I  cannot  describe  what  now  passed.  My  heart 
soon  overflowed  with  contending  emotions.  I  found  myself 
able  to  prevail  against  its  stronger  dictates  no  longer;  and 
my  feelings  found  vent  in  a  flood  of  tears.  My  head  involun- 
tarily rested  on  his  shoulder,  while  he  advocated  his  cause 
with  all  the  tender  pathos  of  love,  which  found  a  chord  in 
my  own  bosom  so  powerfully  responsive  to  its  eloquent  plead- 
ings that, 

"Then  our  hearts  together  run; 
And  like  kindred  drops  of  water, 
Met  and  mingled  into  one." 

The  winged  moments  flew  by  unheeded;  and  when,  at  the 
end  of  an  hour,  which,  in  this  sweet  trance  of  the  affections, 


THE    GREEN   MOUNTAIN   BOYS.  171 

seemed  as  a  moment,  we  rose  to  return,  onr  mutual  vows  of 
unchanging  love  and  eternal  constancy,  had  ascended  to  the 
registry  of  Heaven. 

Soon  after  our  return  to  the  house,  the  gentlemen  apprised 
us  of  the  necessity  of  their  immediate  departure;  when,  after 
an  affectionate  adieu,  they  proceeded  on  their  destination. 
This  destination  I  am  not  at  liberty  to  unfold,  and  shall  con- 
sequently be  debarred  from  some  particulars  connected  with 
my  parting  with  W.  which  awakened  a  solicitude  alike  new 
and  painful  to  my  feelings.  I  did  not  tarry  long  after  they 
left  us.  But  after  a  shower  of  thanks,  praises,  and  blessings 
from  our  hostess,  for  the  step,  which  I  apprised  her  I  had 
taken,  I  soon  set  out  for  home,  where  I  arrived  before  sunset. 

On  another  page  of  this  letter  I  styled  myself  your  per- 
plexed friend.  I  am  so,  though  not  because  I  regret  the  step 
I  have  taken,  but  on  account  of  the  difficulties  which  must 
soon  beset  me.  I  have  also  many  painful  apprehensions  of 
the  effect  which  my  engagement  may  have  when  it  becomes 
known,  as  ere  long  it  necessarily  must,  on  not  only  my 
father's  happiness,  but  his  property,  owing  to  the  peculiarities 
of  our  situation.  As  these  cannot  be  understood  without  a 
knowledge  of  some  former  events  connected  with  our  family, 
I  will,  in  confidence,  briefly  relate  to  you  the  leading  partic- 
ulars of  our  family  history.  My  paternal  grandfather's  family 
consisted  of  my  uncle  Gabriel  Hendee,  and  my  father,  James 
Hendee,  with  their  halt  sister  Mary,  who  married  John  Sher- 
wood, father  of  Jacob  Sherwood.  To  these  three  was  left  a 
considerably  extensive  property,  which  Avas  increased  as  far 
as  regarded  the  shares  of  Gabriel,  and  his  brother-in-law, 
Sherwood,  who,  becoming  partners,  engaged  in  the  lucrative 
trade  and  commerce  of  the  Connecticut  river,  on  the  banks 
of  which,  within  the  borders  of  Massachusetts,  you  are  al- 
ready aware,  we  all  once  resided.  But  my  father,  who  was  of 
a  different  disposition  and  less  inclined  to  confine  himself  to 
the  details  of  business,  entered  into  uncertain  speculations^ 
which,  instead  of  increasing,  diminished  his  original  inher- 
itance, involved  him  in  some  pecuniary  embarrassments,  and 
finally  led  him  to  abandon  trade,  for  which  he  seemed  neither 
to  have  much  tact  nor  inclination,  and  seek  a  commission 
in  the  army,  destined  for  the  French  and  Indian  wars,  then 
beginning  to  rage  along  our  borders.  Obtaining  the  commif?- 
mn  he  sought;  he  was  soon  called  into  active  service,  having 


172  THE    GREEN   MOUNTAIN   BOYS. 

entrusted  Sherwood  to  arrange  hh  affairs  and  take  charge  of 
our  property;  while  Uncle  Gabriel^  having  no  family^  and  be- 
coming an  invalid,  retired  from  business,  and  came  to  reside 
with  our  family  in  father's  absence.  Several  years  thus 
passed  away,  father  at  intervals  returning  home  to  see  his 
wife  and  son,  the  darling  little  Edward,  and  spend  such  time 
with  them  as  his  public  duties  would  permit,  scarcely  troub- 
ling himself  to  look  into  the  state  of  his  property,  which  he 
believed  to  be  in  hands  where  it  would  be  husbanded  to  the 
best  advantage.  My  uncle  Gabriel  in  the  meanwhile  still 
continuing  to  live  in  the  family,  and  appearing  much  attached 
to  it,  especially  to  his  little  nephew,  made  his  will,  bequeath- 
ing his  whole  property  to  the  child,  when  of  age,  and  all  the 
income  till  that  time,  and  certain  portions  of  it  after,  to  my 
father.  But  it  so  happened  not  long  after  this  that  Mr.  Sher- 
wood, who  had  taken  a  temporary  residence  further  up  the 
river,  paid  our  family  a  long  visit,  at  the  *end  of  which  he 
took  ni}'  uncle  home  with  him,  w^here  he  soon  grew  worse  and 
died;  not  however,  as  it  soon  appeared,  till  he  had  added  a 
codicil  to  his  will,  making,  in  case  of  Edward's  death,  Mr. 
Sherwood^s  son,  Jacob,  legatee,  and  placing  that  family  where 
the  will  placed  ours.  From  that  time  misfortunes  seemed  to 
fall  fast  and  heavy  on  our  devoted  fam^ily.  My  mother  soon 
sickened  and  died,  leaving  me,  her  youngest  child,  about  a 
3^ear  old.  Our  family  establishment  was  then  broken  up.  Ed- 
ward was  placed  in  the  family  of  Mr.  Sherwood;  and  I  was 
sent  to  a  relation  of  my  mother  in  Hartford.  But  father,  al- 
ready borne  down  with  sorrow  at  the  loss  of  two  wives  (for 
my  mother  was  a  second  wife  by  whom  he  had  no  other 
child),  was  doomed  to  another  blow  scarcely  less  fatal  to  his 
happiness,  and  more  so  to  his  future  prospects,  in  the  further 
loss  of  that  son  on  whom  all  his  hopes  and  dependence  had 
been  placed.  The  boy  had  been  allowed,  as  the  story  was 
told,  to  accompany  a  reckless  young  man,  then  in  Sherwood's 
employ,  many  miles  into  the  interior,  and  there  strayed  av/ay, 
and  never  could  be  found.  There  was  a  rapid  river  running 
through  the  woods,  in  which  he  might  have  been  drowned, 
and  swept  down  into  the  Connecticut.  But  it  was  considered 
more  probable,  that  he  had  been  seized  by  some  small,  lurk- 
ing band  of  Indians  (traces  of  whom  were  discovered  in  the 
vain  search  for  the  boy),  and  by  them  murdered,  as  it  was 
supposed,  since  no  tidings  of  him  ever  reached  us,    My  father. 


THE    GREEN    MOUNTAIN    BOYS.  173 

when  he  returned,  and  learned  the  fate  of  his  son,  was  incon- 
solable. And  Mr.  Sherwood  seemed  deeply  to  sympathize 
with  him,  and  moreover  to  manifest  great  regret  that  uncle 
had  so  altered  his  will  as  to  take  all  his  property  from  our 
family,  assuring  my  father  that  he  would  make  such  provision 
for  us  as  would  be  a  recompense.  After  this  visit  my  father 
remained  abroad  to  the  close  of  the  war,  when,  being  dis- 
charged from  the  service,  he  began  to  bethink  him  about  the 
means  of  a  future  livelihood,  and  called  on  Sherwood  to  ac- 
count for  his  property,  which,  to  his  dismay,  had  dwindled 
to  a  mere  pittance.  And  receiving  it,  he  commenced  a  small 
business  in  Hartford,  where  he  resided  till  I  was  about  seven- 
teen, living  in  good  style,  and  bestowing  on  me  the  best  edu- 
cation the  place  afforded.  But  again  becoming  embarrassed 
by  expenses  beyond  his  income,  and  his  joride  revolting  at 
the  thought  of  being  a  bankrupt  in  this  place,  he  took  me, 
and  secretly  left  town  for  Albany,  to  avail  himself  of  the 
many  promises  of  Mr.  Sherwood,  who  had  removed  to  the 
latter  place  many  years  before.  We  were  kindly  received  by 
Mr.  S.,  who  furnished  father  with  money  to  pay  off  his  credi- 
tors in  Hartford,  and  subsequently  to  purchase  our  present 
residence,  though  most  of  the  improvements  have  been  made 
through  the  means  of  the  half  pay  which  he  receives  from 
government. 

You  will  now,  Jessy,  be  able  to  appreciate  the  difficulties 
of  my  situation,  and  perceive  the  reasons  which  actuate  my 
father  in  the  strenuous  course  which  he  has  pursued,  and 
will  be  likely  still  to  pursue,  in  urging  a  connection  between 
me  and  Jacob  Sherwood.    Jessy,  adieu.  A.  H. 

P.  S. — When  I  closed  as  above,  last  night,  I  expected  the 
letter  would  have  been  taken  early  this  morning  by  Major 
Skeen's  colored  man.  Jack,  who  said  he  should  go  up  with 
his  boat  to-day;  but  he  has  just  called  and  says  he  shall  not 
go  till  to-morrow  morning.  The  main  object  of  this  post- 
script is,  however,  to  say,  that  if  you  thought  it  so  important 
that  I  should  keep  your  secret,  you  cannot  but  see  how  much 
more  so  it  is  that  you  keep  mine.  I  know  not  but  Mr.  War- 
rington^s  life  may  depend  on  it — I  did  not  mean  to  say  this, 
but  my  fears  and  forebodings  have  compelled  me.  You  do 
not  know  Mr.  S. — would  to  heaven  I  had  never  known  him. — 
Farewell.  Alma. 


THE   GREEN   MOUNTAIN   BOYS.  175 


THE  GEEEN  MOUNTAIN  B0Y8. 


CHAPTEE  I. 


'They  came,  impatient  for  the  fight, — 
Burning  to  rush  into  the  slaughter, — 
Ready  to  pour  their  blood  like  water 
For  what  they  deem  the  right;  — 
Like  men,  preferring  glorious  graves 
To  life  if  it  must  be  the  life  of  slaves! ' 


It  seems  to  be  universally  conceded  that  the  first  settlers  of 
Vermont  were  men  of  an  h'on  mouldy  and  of  an  indomitable 
spirit.  And  it  is  no  less  true,  we  apprehend^  that  with  cor- 
poreal frames,  nnnsually  large  and  muscular,  and  constitu- 
tions peculiarly  robust  and  enduring,  they  possessed,  also, 
intelligence  and  mental  energies,  which,  considering  what 
might  naturally  be  expected  of  men  of  their  condition  in  life, 
and  in  their,  situation  in  a  wilderness  affording  none  of  the 
ordinary  means  of  intellectual  culture,  w^ere  equally  remark- 
able. The  proof  of  these  assertions  is  to  be  abundantly 
found,  we  think,  in  the  unequaled  stand  taken  by  them  for 
their  rights,  in  their  memorable  controversy  with  E'ew  York, 
and  in  the  multiplied  documents  that  grew  out  of  it,  in  the 
shape  of  resolves  and  decrees  of  conventions,  addresses  to  the 
people,  memorials  and  remonstrances  to  the  governor  of  that 
province,  and  to  the  British  throne  itself,  all  drawn  up  witli 
great  clearness  and  cogency  of  reasoning,  and  evincing  a 
knowledge  of  natural  and  constitutional  rights  in  a  people, 
among  whom  law  as  a  profession  was  then  entirely  unknown, 
which  are  generally  to  be  found  only  in  the  courts  and  coun- 
cils of  old  and  highly  civilized  countries.  And  even  were 
these  testimonials  to  their  character  wholly  wanting,  ample 
evidence  that  they  were  a  generation  of  no  ordinary  men 

12 


176  THE    GREEN    MOUNTAIN    BOYS. 

may  still  be  seen  in  tlie  scattered  remnant  of  tiiis  noble  band 
of  heroes  yet  lingering  among  us,  like  tlie  few  and  aged  pines 
on  their  evergreen  monntains,  and,  though  now  bowed  down 
by  the  weight  of  nearly  a  century  of  years,  exhibiting  frames, 
which  would  almost  seem  to  indicate  them  as  men  belonging 
to  another  race,  and  which  are  still  animated  by  the  light 
of  wisdom  and  intelligence,  and  warmed  by  the  unconquerable 
spirit  of  freedom  yet  burning  unwasted  within  them. 

Those  who  have  treated  on  this  subject,  vvhen  alluding  to 
the  facts  we  have  stated,  have  generally  coupled  them  with 
observations  upon  the  invigorating  effects  of  mountain  air, 
etc.,  leaving  us  to  infer  that  these  peculiarities  of  the  early  set- 
tlers were  attributable  only  to  such  causes.  It  is,  indeed,  doubt- 
less the  case,  that  the  wild  scenery,  and  the  pure  elastic  air  of 
mountainous  countries,  are  the  most  favorable,  under  the  same 
degree  of  culture,  to  the  formation  of  the  highest  grade  of 
physical,  as  well -as  moral  and  intellectual  character — ^impart- 
ing, in  the  one  instance,  that  health  and  peculiar  vigor  which 
brings  the  human  system  to  all  the  perfection  that  it  is  capa- 
ble of  attaining,  and,  in  the  other,  engendering,  with  firm- 
ness of  nerves  and  firmness  of  purpose,  the 
usual  attendants  of  great  bodily  powers,  a  healthy 
and  high-toned  imagination,  and  those  lofty  aspira- 
tions that  exalt  the  character,  and  promjot  to  great  and  noble 
actions.  But  whatever  influence  the  peculiar  climate  and 
scener}^  of  this  Switzerland  of  America,  as  Vermont  may,  per- 
haps, be  appropriately  termed,  may  have  had,  in  this  respect, 
on  the  descendants  of  these  hardy  settlers,  little  of  this  in- 
fluence, probably,  would  have  been  perceptible  on  the  settlers 
themselves:  they,  it  must  be  recollected,  were  not  natives  of 
these  mountains,  but  recent  emigrants  from  other  IS^ew  Eng- 
land colonies.  And  whatever  peculiarities  they  possessed  must 
mainly  have  originated  in  other  causes — from  the  very  nature 
of  the  enterprise,  probably,  vrhich  brought  them  together,  that 
of  settling  a  wild  and  rough  frontier  country,  known  to  be 
attended  by  a  thousand  difficulties  and  hardships,  and  beset 
by  a  thousand  dangers,  in  which  men  of  ordinary  stamina 
would  never  think  of  engaging.  They,  indeed,  may  be  looked 
upon  in  the  light  of  picked  men,  or  more  properly,  perhaps^ 
in  that  of  volunteers,  stepping  boldly  and  confidently  forth 
for  some  extraordinary  enterprise,  of  which  the  hazard  and 
difficulty  are  so  great,  that  nothing  but  an  uncommon  union 


THE    GREEN    MOUNTAIN    BOYS,  177 

of  courage  and  strength  can  accomplish  it,  and  of  which  the 
success,  or  even  the  attempt,  it  may  be,  furnishes  the  best 
evidence  of  these  quahties  in  those  who  vokmtarily  enhst  in 
the  undertaking.  And  as  regards  the  intelHgence  and  mental 
character  of  these  settlers,  their  educations  were  generally 
equal  to  those  usually  received  among  tlie  better  classes  of 
the  old  settlements  where  they  were  obtained,  and  superior, 
probably,  to  what  the  same  men  were  able  to  furnish  to  their 
immediate  descendants.  And  this  fact,  together  with  the 
emergencies,  which  not  only  called  all  the  energies  of  their 
minds  into  action,  but  constantly  improved  them,  and  en- 
larged their  information  by  the  investigations  they  were  in- 
duced to  make  for  the  successful  prosecution  of  their  cause 
in  the  N'ew  York  controversy,  will  sufficiently  account  for 
their  intellectual  superiority  over  the  ordinary  settlers  of 
other  new  countries. 

With  these  observations,  here  thrown  in  by  way  of  showing 
our  warrant  for  many  of  the  descriptions  of  character  which 
we  have  introduced,  and  which,  we  thought  it  not  impossible, 
might  otherwise  subject  us  to  the  charge  of  indulging  in  im- 
probabilities, we  will  now  proceed  with  the  incidents  of  our 
story. 

The  morning  of  the  ninth  of  May  broke  brightly  upon  the 
encampment  of  our  troops  at  Castleton,  disclosing  to  the 
view,  now  for  the  first  time,  an  organized  band  of  about  three 
hundred  as  brave  and  hardy  men  as  ever  assembled  for  deeds 
of  daring  and  danger.  Of  this  number  more  than  three- 
fourths  were  Green  Mountain  Boys.  The  remainder  were 
men  collected  from  the  nearest  parts  of  Massachusetts  and 
Connecticut,  and  led  on  by  several  enterprising  militia  officers 
of  these  colonies,  who  had  actively  co-operated  in  getting  up 
the  expedition,  A  council  had  been  held  the  night  previous, 
for  the  purpose  of  organizing  these  united  forces,  which  had 
been  dropping  in  irregularly  through  the  day  and  a  greater 
part  of  the  night,  and  also  for  making  all  other  necessary  ar- 
rangements to  march  for  their  destination  on  the  following 
morning.  At  this  council  Ethan  Allen  had  been  unanimously 
appointed  the  commander-in-chief  of  the  expedition.  Col- 
onel Easton,  one  of  the  Massachusetts  officers,  was  placed  sec- 
ond in  command.  And  the  third  grade  was  assigned  to  War- 
rington; while  Selden,  in  making  the  subordinate  appoint- 
ments, was  raised  to  the  post  of  captain  to  supply  the  place 

12 


178  THE    GREEN    MOUNTAIN    BOYS. 

left  vacant  by  the  promotion  of  his  superior.  Even  onr  friend, 
Pete  Jones,  though  now  absent,  was  not  forgotten  in  the  dis- 
tribution of  honors,  but  named  to  take  charge  of  the  scouts, 
provided  he  Joined  the  expedition.  All  these  arrangements 
having  been  made  the  night  before,  as  just  stated,  the  troops 
by  sunrise  had  breakfasted,  and  were  now  under  arms,  and 
undergoing  a  review  preparatory  to  marching.  All  were  in 
high  spirits,  and  animated  at  the  thought  of  being  immedi- 
ately led  to  the  important  object  of  their  enterprise.  Their 
gallant  leader,  now  dressed  and  equipped  in  a  manner  appro- 
priate to  his  rank,  and  mounted  on  his  own  noble  charger, 
was  riding  proudly  along  their  imposing  front — now  pausing 
to  give  some  directions  to  an  officer,  now  to  inspect  the 
equipments  of  a  company,  and  now  backing  his  curvetting 
steed  to  take  a  view  of  the  whole;  while  his  towering  form 
seemed  to  dilate,  and  rise  still  higher  to  the  view,  his  bosom 
heave  with  pride,'  and  his  eyes  glisten  with  delight,  as  they 
ran  along  the  lines  of  his  stout  and  broad-chested  Green 
Mountain  Boys,  and  read  in  their  hardy  features,  lit  up  with 
enthusiasm,  and  eagerness  for  action  in  a  cause  which  every 
man  had  made  his  own,  the  same  high  resolves,  the  same 
burning  desires  to  signalize  themselves  that  animated  his 
own  bosom. 

At  this  moment,  a  stranger,  who,  with  a  single  attendant 
in  the  capacity  of  a  servant,  had  but  a  short  time  before  ar- 
rived, came  on  to  the  ground,  and  took  a  conspicuous  stand  in 
front  of  the  troops.  He  was  of  about  the  middle  age,  stout, 
well-made,  and  handsomely  featured,  while  a  Roman  nose, 
a  thin,  curling  lip,  and  a  black  flashing  eye,  with  the  peculi- 
arly contemptuous,  and  even  sinister  expression,  and  reckless 
air,  which  they  combined  to  give  his  countenance,  denoted 
no  ordinary  degree  of  self-esteem,  and  a  fiery  and  impetuous 
disposition.  He  was  richly  and  fashionably  dressed,  and  wore 
a  sword,  epaulet,  and  other  insignia  usually  worn  by  field 
officers  of  the  times. 

"Captain  Blagden,"  said  Selden,  turning  to  a  Connecticut 
officer  near  him,  and  pointing  to  the  stranger  just  described, 
"can  you  inform  me  who  that  proud  and  scornful  looking 
fellow  yonder  may  be?  He  belongs  not  to  us  of  the  Green 
Mountains;  nor  docs  he  appear  to  have  any  connection  with 
the  troops  from  Massachusetts,  or  with  those  from  your  ov/n 
colony;  and  yet  his  demeanor,  and  showy  military  appendages^ 


THE    GREEN    MOUNTAIN    BOYS.  179 

would  lead  one  to  suppose  that  lie  came  here  to  take  com- 
mand of  the  whole  of  us/' 

"I  have  been  looking  at  the  man  myself/'  replied  the  person 
addressed^  "and,  though  not  quite  certain,  yet  I  believe  I 
know  him.  I  think  he  must  be  one  whom  I  well  knew  when 
we  were  boys,  and  of  whose  singular  career  I  have  since  been 
often  informed.  And,  if  my  conjectures  are  right,  his  name 
is  Arnold,  Benedict  Arnold,  of  New  Haven." 

"But  what  do  you  imagine  has  brought  him  here  with  these 
apparent  assumptions  ?" 

.  "Well,  nov/  I  bethink  me,  sir,  I  remember,  that  the  day  I 
left  home,  a  townsman  of  mine,  who  Jiad  just  returned  from 
N'ew  Haven,  reported  that,  when  the  news  of  the  battle  of 
Lexington  arrived  at  that  place.  Captain  Arnold,  who  is  the 
commander  of  an  independent  company  there,  started,  with 
several  other  military  men,  post  haste  for  the  scene  of  action. 
And  as  he  is  said  to  be  a  good  officer,  having  been  a  soldier 
in  the  army  (into  which  he  ran  away  and  enlisted  in  his 
3^outh),  I  should  not  be  surprised  to  learn  he  had  received  a 
commission  from  the  Massachusetts  Committee  of  Safety. 
And  further,  as  he  was  stationed,  vfhile  a  bo3-soldier,  at  Ticon- 
deroga,  and  knows,  doubtless,  considerable  of  its  situation, 
I  will  hazard  a  bottle  with  you,  Captain  Selden,  that  he  has 
craved,  and  obtained,  permission  of  that  Committee,  to  take 
charge  of  the  troops  which  they  probably  heard  were  collect- 
ing for  this  expedition." 

"Aha!  Colonel  Allen,  I  imagine,  will  have  a  word  to  say 
to  that  bargain.  It  would  fairly  break  his  heart  to  be  de- 
prived of  the  chance  of  receiving  the  first  charge  of  grape  or 
canister  that  shall  salute  us  from  the  wide-mouthed  war-dogs 
of  Old  Ti.  And  if  your  surmises  are  correct,  a  collision,  I 
fear,  is  unavoidable  unless  Mr.  Arnold  should,  as  I  think  he 
certainly  ought,  waive  his  pretensions  to  the  command." 

"A  collision  it  v/ill  be  then;  for  Arnold,  it  is  said,  was 
never  yet  known  to  yield  to  anything,  when  his  purposes  were 
fixed.  A  more  reckless  dare-devil,  I  suppose,  never  trod  the 
footstool.  Why  sir,  when  we  were  but  boys,  I  have  known 
him  spring  upon  a  large  water-wheel  in  full  motion,  grasp 
one  of  its  arms,  with  his  head  towards  the  circumference,  and 
there  remain  till  he  had  been  dashed  through  the  back-water 
beneath,  during  forty  revolutions!  I  have  known  him,  single- 
handed,  seize  and  overcome  a  mad  ox,  which  had  broke  away 


iSO  THE    GREEN    MOUNTAIN    BOYS. 

from^  and  nearly  killed  a  dozen  men.  One  or  more  duels  lie 
has  fought  abroad;  while  scores  of  bullies  have  been  cudgeled 
and  conquered  by  him  about  home.  Indeed^  if  one  half  that 
is  told  of  him  is  true,  the  wild  bulls  of  Bashan  had  not  a 
spirit  more  untamable,  nor  scarcely  more  bodily  strength  to 
back  it.'^' 

"All  that  may  be,  sir,  but  those  who  knovv^  Ethan  Allen  will 
laugh  at  the  very  idea  of  there  being  found  a  man  in  ISTew 
England  who  can  outdo  him  in  feats  of  either  strength  or 
courage.  And  when  they  tell  you,  as  they  truly  may,  that 
they  have  seen  him  bite  off  the  heads  of  board  nails  by  dozens, 
— seize  by  his  teeth,  and  throw  over  his  head,  bags  contain- 
ing each  a  bushel  of  salt,  as  fast  as  two  men  could  bring  them 
round  to  him, — grasp  two  opponents  who  had  beset  him,  one 
in  each  hand,  and  lifting  them  clear  off  the  ground,  hold  them 
out  at  arms  length,  and  beat  them  together  till  they  cried  for 
merc}^, — engage  alone  with  a  York  sheriff  and  his  posse  of 
six  common  men,  rout  the  whole,  and  leave  them  sprawling 
on  the  ground — you  will  probably  allow  that  such  a  man  will 
not  be  very  likely  to  succumb  to  your  hero:  Let  this  Arnold 
but  offer  to  assume  the  command,  and,  unless  I  am  sadly  mis- 
taken, you  will  see  what  kind  of  stuff  our  old  Green  Mountain 
lion  is  made  of.  But  see!  the  fellow  is  beckoning  the  officers 
to  approach  him.  Let  us  move  up  to  the  spot,  and  hear  what 
he  has  to  offer  on  the  occasion.^' 

Understanding  and  heeding  the  intimation  of  the  stranger 
officer,  who  was  indeed  no  other  than  Benedict  Arnold,  after- 
wards so  infamously  conspicuous  in  the  annals  of  our  revolu- 
tion, most  of  the  officers,  including  Allen,  who  had  dis- 
mounted for  the  purpose,  immediately  advanced  and  formed 
an  irregular  line  before  him. 

"Gentlemen,''  said  he,  with  a  perfectly  assured  and  confi- 
dent air,  after  waiting  till  all  had  approached  and  assumed  a 
listening  attitude,  "I  am  personally  unknown,  1  presume,  to 
most,  or  all  of  you,  but  having  been  clothed  with  the  proper 
authority,  and  directed  to  proceed  to  this  place  for  the  pur- 
pose, I  have  the  honor  to  announce  myself  to  you  as  the  com- 
mander of  this  expedition;  consequently  it  is  now  my  duty 
to  take  charge  of  these  troops." 

"Sir?"  said  Allen,  taking  a  step  in  advance  of  his  fellow  offi- 
cers, placing  bds  arms  akimbo,  and  turning  up  his  ear,  as  if 
the  better  to  catch  the  words  of  the  speaker,  whom  he  eyed 


THE    GREEN    MOUNTAIN    BOYS.  181 

askance  with  a  look  of  queerly  blended  doubt  and  scorn: 
'^Sir?  did  I  hear  aright?  Did  yon  say  that  yon  thonght  it  your 
duty  to  take  charge  of  these  troops?" 

"I  did,  sir,  and  still  so  consider  it/'  replied  Arnold,  rather 
restively. 

"Do  yon,  indeed  sir,"  rejoined  Allen,  with  a  look  of  cool 
derision.  "Then  it  was  altogether  a  mistake  of  mine  in  sup- 
posing that  the  reverse  of  your  proposition  would  have  made 
out  a  more  probable  case?" 

"I  know  not  what  you  mean,"  said  Arnold,  his  voice  trem- 
bling with  stifled  anger  at  the  biting  significance  of  the  other's 
remark.  "You  may  learn,  however,  that  I  am  not  a  person  to 
be  trifled  with,  sir." 

"'Well,  I  can't  pretend  to  say  what,  or  who  you  are  not,"  re- 
plied Allen,  waxing  warm,  and  giving  token  of  a  direct  onset, 
but  I  should  like  to  know  who  the  devil  you  are,  that  come 
here  from  another  colony  to  take  the  control  of  men  who 
now  own  allegiance  to  no  power  short  of  that  of  the  Grod  of 
Heaven?" 

"My  name  is  Arnold,"  replied  the  other,  biting  his  lips  in 
suppressed  rage,  "and  I  hold  a  commission  of  Colonel,  with 
the  orders  I  named,  from  the  Massachusetts  Committee  of 
Safety.  There!  examine  it  for  yourselves!"  he  added,  pulling 
out  a  parchment,  and  disdainfully  hurling  it  at  their  feet. 

The  roll  was  instantly  picked  up,  and  attentively  examined 
by  several  of  the  officers;  while  Arnold  stood  aloof  in  con- 
temptuous silence,  sc^cely  deigning  to  bestow  a  glance  on  the 
eompan}^  thus  engaged.  It  indeed  proved,  as  he  had  stated, 
a  Colonel's  commission,  from  the  source  above  mentioned, 
enclosing  another  document,  signed  by  the  same  Committee, 
authorizing  Arnold  to  raise  troops  in  Massachusetts,  or  else- 
where, to  the  number  of  four  hundred^  and  march  them  for 
the  redaction  o'f  Ticonderoga. 

"ISTow,  sir,  where  is  your  commission?  I  should  like  to  see 
it  in  turn,"  said  Arnold,  addressing  Allen,  and  advancing  with 
an  air  of  triumph,  as  soon  as  the  examination  of  his  creden- 
tials, which  he  supposed  must  silence  all  further  question  of 
the  right  he  had  assumed,  was  completed. 

"M}^  commission?"  promptly  replied  Allen,  by  no  means 
disturbed  by  tliis  unexpected  demand,  though  in  fact  he  had 
no  paper  commission  to  show,  as  the  council  appointing  him 
had  not  deemed  such  an  instrument  essential;  "where  is  my 


182  THE    GREEN    MOUNTAIN    BOYS. 

commission^  do  you  ask?  Tliere^  sirT'  he  continued,  pointing 
to  liis  troops,  who,  understanding  Arnold^s  claim  to  take  com- 
mand of  them,  already  began  to  exhibit  visible  tokens  of  dis- 
pleasure at  the  thought  of  having  their  idolized  leader  super- 
seded by  a  stranger,  ''there,  sir!  there  it  is,  engraven  on  the 
hearts  of  these  two  hundred  and  thirty  Green  Mountain  Boys! 
Trace  it  out  there  for  yourself!  Eead  it  in  their  eyes,  in 
every  lineament  of  their  countenances!  And  if  that  is  not 
enough  for  you,  then  ask  them  whether  Ethan  Allen,  who  is 
getting  gray  in  their  service,  is  to  be  thrust  aside  for  a  com- 
mander v\^hom  they  have  never  before  seen?" 

"Never!  no,  never!"  fiercely  burst  from  a  hundred  lips 
along  the  lines,  while  many  indignantly  threw  down  their 
arms,  and  all,  either  by  vv'ord,  look  or  gesture,  gave  un- 
equivocal indication  of  their  determination  to  allow  no  man  to 
usurp  the  place  of  their  chosen  leader. 

The  countenance  of  Arnold,  with  all  his  assurance,  instant- 
ly fell  at  so  decided,  and,  to  him,  so  unexpected  a  manifesta- 
tion of  the  disposition  of  the  troops;  and  he  bit  his  lips  in 
vexation  and  mortified  pride  at  his  defeat. 

At  this  crisis  of  the  affair,  Warrington,  fearing,  in  common 
with  the  other  officers,  that  the  altercation  might  prove 
ruinous  to  the  enterprise,  stepped  forward  and  interposed. 
He  first,  respectfully,  and  in  a  manner  calculated  to  soothe  the 
irritated  feelings  of  Arnold,  set  forth  the  doubtfulness  of  his 
right,  even  under  the  instructions  and  commission  he  had  re- 
ceived, to  assume  the  command  of  troops  who  had  not  been 
enlisted  by  him,  but  who  had  volunteered,  without  any  knowl- 
edge of  him  or  his  instructions,  and  with  the  implied  condi- 
tion that  they  should  be  left  to  the  choice  of  their  own  lead- 
ers. He  then  appealed  to  him  as  a  gentleman,  a  patriot,  and 
friend  to  the  commdh  cause,  whether  he  would  do  well  to 
insist  on  his  claim,  since  doing  so,  as  he  must  see,  would  prove 
destructive  of  their  expedition.  This  courteous  and  well- 
timed  appeal,  which  opened  a  door  by  which  Arnold  might 
honorably  retreat  from  his  awkward  position,  seemed  to  pro- 
duce on  his  mind  an  instantaneous  effect.  The  dark  and 
angry  frown,  which  had  settled  on  his  countenance,  gave  way 
to  a  bright  and  cheerful  look.  Vv^ith  one  hand  he  instantly 
tore  the  epaulets  from  his  shoulders,  while,  with  the  other 
he  drew  his  sword  and  threw  it  on  the  ground,  gallantly  ex- 
claiming, 


THE    GREEN    MOUNTAIN    BOYS.  183 

"Gentlemen^  I  most  cheerfully  waive  all  pretensions  to  the 
command^  which  of  right,  I  am  now  convinced,  belongs  to  the 
brave  leader  of  the  far-famed  Green  Mountain  Bo3^s.  But  as 
to  going  with  you  on  this  glorious  enterprise,  it  is  a  privilege 

which,  by  ,  I  won^t  relinquish!      Gentlemen,  v/ill  you 

furnish  me  with  a  common  musket,  and  accept  me  as  a  volun- 
teer soldier  of  your  gallant  band?" 

Allen  appeared  to  be  taken  completely  aback  by  tliis  sud- 
den declaration  of  Arnold.  His  naturally  forgiving  and  noble 
disposition,  and  quick  feelings,  were  instantly  touched  with 
this  mark  of  magnanimity,  as  unexpected  to  him  as  it  was 
remarkable  in  the  man,  being  the  most  striking,  and  perhaps 
the  only  instance  of  the  kind,  ever  displayed  by  this  brave, 
but  unprincipled  officer  in  his  whole  public  career. 

"Done  like  a  man,  by  Jove!'^  exclaimed  the  chivalrous  lead- 
er of  the  Green  Mountain  Boj^s,  advancing  and  cordially  prof- 
fering the  other  his  hand,  while  the  tears  of  admiring  and 
grateful  emotion  fairly  started  out  on  to  his  brawny  cheeks. 
''Done  like  a  man  and  a  hero!  Here,  God  bless  you,  give  us 
your  fist!  There  is  about  the  right  kind  of  stuff  in  you,  after 
all,  my  friend.  Will  you  accept  the  post  of  my  aid-de-camp, 
with  the  rank  your  commission  gives  3^ou?'' 

"Most  cheerfully,  sir,"  replied  the  flattered  Arnold,  waving 
his  hand  with  easy  and  grateful  courtesy. 

"Pick  up  your  sword  and  badges,  then,  sir,"  resumed  Allen. 
"Gall  for  your  horsQ,  and  we  will  now  on  together,  like  broth- 
ers, in  the  cause  of  God  and  the  people.  Officers  and  soldiers!" 
he  continued,  in  a  loud  and  cheering  voice,  that  rung  like  a 
deep  toned  trumpet  far  and  wide  over  field  and  forest  around, 
while  he  sprang  upon  his  impatient  charger,  and  waved  his 
sword  on  high;  "prepare  to  march!  Ethan  Allen  still  com- 
mands you.  Peace  is  in  the  camp,  the  Lord  on  our  side,  and 
victory  before  us!    Forward,  march!" 

Three  loud  and  lively  cheers  told  the  satisfaction  of  the 
men  at  this  double  announcement;  and,  in  another  moment, 
the  whole  corps,  wheeling  off  to  the  brisk  and  stirring  notes 
of  shrieking  fife  and  rattling  drum,  v^ere  sweeping  down  the 
road  in  full  march  towards  the  object  of  their  destination. 

The  route  of  the  troops  was  along  the  military  road,  which 
in  the  French  war  of  1759,  had  been  opened  from  Charleston, 
on  Connecticut  river,  across  the  Green  Mountains  to  Lake 
Champlain_,  by  a  Kew  Hampshire  regiment,  acting  under  the 


184  THE    GREEN    MOUNTAIN   BOYS. 

orders  of  General  Amherst.  This  road,  leading  directly 
through  Castleton,  and  taking  a  northerly  direction,  branched 
off  within  a  few  miles  of  the  lake,  one  fork  running  down  to 
the  shore  o^Dposite  to  Ticonderoga,  and  the  other  proceeding 
onward  to  Crown  Point.  Although  this,  at  the  period,  was 
jDerhaps  the  best  road  in  the  settlement,  still  it  was  little  more 
than  a  roughly  cut  path  through  the  wilderness,  abounding,  at 
this  season,  with  deep  sloughs,  fallen  trees  and  other  obstacles 
calculated  to  prevent  much  expedition  in  traveling.  But  such 
was  the  spirit  and  constitutional  vigor  of  the  men,  that  a 
march  of  four  or  five  hours  brought  them  over  half  the  dis- 
tance from  their  late  rendezvous  to  their  destined  landing  on 
the  lake,  the  former  place  being  about  thirty  miles  from  the 
latter.  They  had  now,  for  several  miles,  been  passing  through 
a  heavy  unbroken  forest,  and  the  mounted  officers,  riding  a 
short  distance  in  advance  of  the  men,  v/ere  anxiously  looking 
forward  for  a  clea-ring,  or  some  suitable  place  to  halt  for  a 
mid-day  refreshment. 

^'There!''  said  Allen,  turning  to  his  companions,  as  the 
sound  of  a  falling  tree  came  booming  through  the  forest  from 
a  distance,  "did  you  hear  that?  We  are  nearly  through  these 
endless  woods  at  last,  it  seems." 

"Is  that  so  clearly  proved  by  the  falling  of  a  tree?"  asked 
Arnold,  who  was  but  little  of  a  woodman.  "'Old  trees,  I 
thought,  like  old  men,  often  fell  without  human  agency." 

"True,  sir,"  rejoined  Allen,  "hut  human  agency  brought 
that  tree  to  the  ground;  and  it  stood  beside  some  opening, 
too,  or  I  will  agree  to  be  reckoned,  like  the  prophets  of  old, 
without  honor  in  my  own  country." 

"Colonel  Allen  is  right,"  observed  Warrington:  "The  fall- 
ing of  a  green  tree  always  produces  a  dull,  heavy,  lumbering 
sound,  such  as  we  just  heard,  occasioned  by  the  air  it  gathers, 
or  more  properly,  perhaps,  disturbs  in  its  course;  while  the 
sound  of  a  dry  tree  in  falling  is  sharper,  and  comes  with  a 
single  jar  to  the  ear.  That  this  tree  stood  near  an  opening,  is 
sufficiently  evident  from  the  echoes  that  followed  the  first 
sound,  which,  in  tliis  flat  land,  could  only  be  produced  by  the 
reverberating  wood-walls  of  an  opening.  Yes,  the  Colonel  is 
correct:   I  can  now  hear  the  chopper's  blows  quite  distinctly." 

The  falling  of  another  tree  in  the  same  direction  here  in- 
terrupted the  conversation;  while  the  axman's  blows,  sound- 
ing in  the  distance,  and  in  the  tranquil  medium  through 


THE    GREEN    MOUNTAIN    BOYS.  1S5 

which  the}^  were  conveyed  to  the  ear,  like  tlie  ticking  of  a 
clock  in  the  stillness  of  night,  conld  now  plainly  be  heard  by 
all.  In  two  or  three  moments,  a  third  tree  came  tluindering 
to  the  earth.  Another,  and  yet  another  followed  at  equally 
brief  intervals, — the  noise  attending  each  successive  fall,  as 
well  as  that  of  the  fast  repeating  blows  of  the  chopper,  who 
was  causing  such  destruction  among  the  sturdy  tenants  of 
the  forest,  all  growing  more  loud  and  distinct  as  the  party 
approached. 

"There  must  be  more  than  one  of  them,"  observed  Colonel 
Easton,  "to  level  so  large  trees  at  that  rapid  rate." 

"No,  sir,"  replied  Y^^arrington;  "the  regular,  and  non- 
interfering  sounds  of  those  blows  indicate  but  one  axman. 
You  have  not  witnessed  so  much  of  the  execution  of  which 
our  Green  Mountain  Boys  are  capable,  as  I  trust  you  will 
within  twenty-four  hours.  Colonel.  At  all  events,  the  fate  of 
a  tree  under  the  sinewy  arms  of  one  of  them,  is  very  soon  de- 
cided." 

"This  fellow,  hov/ever,"  remarked  Allen,  "does  indeed  lay 
to  it  with  a  will.  I  think  he  must  make  a  good  soldier;  and 
as  such,  he  shall  go  with  us,  if  of  the  right  way  of  thinking — 
if  not,  as  a  prisoner;  for  it  behooves  us  now,  to  know  pretty 
well  the  character  of  every  man  who  is  permitted  to  remain 
behind." 

The  party  now  soon  came  in  sight  of  the  man  who  had  been 
the  subject  of  their  conversation.  He  had  made  an  opening 
in  the  forest  of  about  two  acres,  which  he  was  rapidly  en- 
larging. Having  just  leveled  one  large  tree,  he  was  now 
bending  his  tall  frame  in  an  attack  upon  another,  a  giant  hem- 
lock, standing  near  the  road,  and  had  struck  two  or  three 
blows,  sending  the  blade  of  his  ax  into  the  huge  circum- 
ference up  to  the  helve  at  eyeij  stroke;  when  the  tramp  of 
the  approaching  party  reached  his  ear,  causing  him  to  sus- 
pend and  look  around  him. 

"As  I  live,  it  is  Pete  Jones!"  exclaimed  Warrington,  "just 
beginning  upon  his  new  pitch,  which  he  mentioned  to  us." 

"Good!"  said  Allen,  "I  am  glad  we  have  come  across  the 
droll  devil.  But  we  vrill  furnish  him  with  business  a  notch 
or  two  above  that :  the  Eed  Coats  need  leveling  a  cursed  sight 
more  than  the  trees,  at  this  crisis.  If  nothing  more,  he  shall 
lend  us  that  everlasting  long  body  of  his  for  a  ladder  to  scale 
the  walls  of  Old  Ti.!   Jupiter!  if  Frederick  of  Prussia  had  a 


ISe  THE   GREEN   MOUNTAIN   BOYS. 

regiment  of  such  chaps,  how  the  fellow  would  brag!.  Hallo, 
there!"  he  added,  dashing  forward  towards  the  woodsman, 
who  stood  gazing  with  an  expression  of  quizzical  wonder,  now 
at  the  approaching  cavalcade  of  officers  near  by,  and  now 
straining  forward  his  long  neck  to  get  a  view  of  the  lengthened 
columns  of  the  men,  just  beginning  to  make  their  appear- 
ance in  the  distance. 

"Well,  hallo,  it  is,  then.  Colonel,  if  there's  nothing  better  to 
be  said,"  responded  Jones,  after  waiting  an  instant  to  see  if 
the  other  was  going  to  proceed.  "But  now  I  think  on't. 
Colonel,  where  did  you  get  so  much  folks?  By  Jehu!  how 
they  string  along  yonder!  Why,  there's  more  than  a  hun- 
dred slew  of  men  coming!  And  then  what  pokerish-looking 
tools  they've  all  got!  Now  I  wonder  if  they  ain't  a  going  a 
visiting  over  to  Old  Ti.,  or  somewheres?" 

"I  should  not  be  surprised  if  something  of  that  kind  should 
prove  the  case,"  replied  Allen,  laughing.  "But  what  are  you 
about,  that  you  have  not  joined  us  in  the  proposed  visit?" 

"Why,  I  calculate  to  be  about  this  old  hemlock  till  I  get  it 
down.  Colonel." 

"JSTonsense,  you  ninny!  Why  were  you  not  up  to  Castleton 
last  night?" 

"Now,  don't  fret.  Colonel, — I  did  think  of  it,  honestly;  but 
knowing  you  must  all  come  this  way,  I  though  I  might  as  well 
be  making  a  small  beginning  here  till  you  got  on.  And  so  I 
put  in  yesterday  a  little,  and  have  now  let  in  heaven's  light  on 
something  over  tAvo  acres,  I  calculate.  But  if  you  are  expect- 
ing to  have  pretty  funny  times  of  it  over  there,  I  don't  much 
care  if  I — that  is,  I'll  think  of  it,  after  I  have  brought  the  top 
of  this  old  hemlock  a.  little  lower — "" 

"Your  most  obedient.  Captain  Jones,"  gayly  exclaimed 
Warrington,  now  riding  up. 

"Captain  of  what?"  asked  Jones,  a  little  puzzled  to  know 
whether  he  was  to  receive  this  address  as  a  joke,  and  let  off 
one  of  his  own  in  return,  or  whether  something  serious  was 
intended  by  it:  "Captain  of  what? — of  the  Surveyor,  that  I 
sent  over  the  York  line,  a  day  or  two  ago,  by  a  gentle  touch 
with  my  foot  on  his  northerly  parts?" 

"No,  seriously,  Jones,"  said  Allen,  "in  organizing  last  night, 
we  deemed  it  best  to  have  a  small  band  of  scouts,  of  whom 
you  was  fairly  voted  in  the  Captain,  or  Scout-master,  if  you 
like  the  name  better.    No  man  in  the  settlement  can  go  be- 


THE   GREEN   MOUNTAIN   BOYS.  187 

fore  you  in  performing  the  duties  of  this  post.  Will  you,  with- 
out more  words,  accept  it,  and  join  us?" 

"Can't  you  let  me  stop  to  cut  this  tree  down  first?  'Twon't 
take  scarce  a  minute^  Colonel." 

"No,  the  men  are  at  hand.  We  did  think  to  find  a  spot  to 
halt  and  dine  here,  but  as  I  see  neither  place  nor  water,  we 
must  on  till  we  find  them.  How  soon  shall  we  meet  with  such 
a  place?" 

"Let  me  see,  as  the  blind  man  said — Oh!  there  is  a  cute 
little  beauty  of  a  brook,  with  smooth  banks,  that's  just  your 
sorts,  not  half  a  mile  ahead." 

"Fall  in  here  with  the  troops  then.  But  where  is  yonr 
rifle?" 

"Hard  by  there,  under  a  log,"  replied  Pete.  "I'll  warrant 
you  never  catch  me  far  separated  from  old  Trusty,  with  a  good 
store  of  bullets,  to  go  on  such  errands  as  she  and.  I  have  a 
mind  to  send  them.  Well,  old  ax,"  he  added  in  an  under- 
tone, as  he  took  up  the  implement  to  which  he  seemed  ad- 
dressing himself,  and  carried  it  round  to  the  back  of  the  tree, 
"the  Colonel  thinks  it  best  that  you  and  I  should  bid  each 
other  good-bye,  for  a  short  time;  and  there!  you  may  sit  in 
that  nook  between  those  roots  till  I  come  back  a^^ain. — 


'&•■ 


*So  now  in  the  wars  I  go,  I  go. 
All  for  to  go  a  sodjering. 

Trol,  lol,  lol  de  larly.'" 

And  thus,  in  the  prompt  spirit  of  the  times,  and  with  the 
characteristic  sang  froid  of  the  man,  this  jolly  and  fearless 
Yfoodsman,  drawing  out  his  rifle  from  under  an  old  log^  and 
cheerily  trolling  the  above  quoted  catch  of  some  homely  old 
song,  with  a  chorus  of  his  own  making,  fell  into  the  ranks  of 
the  troops  then  passing,  having  left  his  favorite  ax,  for  which 
he  seemed  to  have  contracted  a  sort  of  fellow-feelino:,  standins: 
behind  the  tree,  on  which  we  found  him  ens^ao^ed,  where  it 
was  destined  to  remain  unregarded  by  its  ov/ner,  during  a 
great  part  of  the  revolutionary  war; — and  where,  on  return- 
ing, after  many  years  of  hardship  and  danger,  spent  in  bravely 
battling  for  his  country's  freedom,  he  found  it,  in  the  same, 
place  and  position,  safe  and  uninjured,  except  in  the  thick 
coat  of  rust  that  had  gathered  over  it — an  incident  of  olden 
times,  well  known  as  a  historical  fact  by  many  in  that  see- 
tiow  of  the  country  ^here  it  occurred:. 


188  THE   GREEN   MOUNTAIN   BOYS. 

The  spot  described  by  Jones  being  found  and  appropriated, 
tlie  troops  partook  of  a  dinner  from  the  provisions  of  their 
packs,  after  which  they  were  allowed  an  hour^s  rest,  which 
was  enlivened,  as  they  were  seated  along  the  mossy  banks  of 
the  gurgling  rivulet,  with  song,  tale,  and  jest,  till  the  deep 
recesses  of  the  forest  rang  with  the  sounds  of  their  merriment. 
While  the  officers,  who  were  seated  in  a  group  by  themselves, 
were  consulting  their  watches,  and  awaiting  the  moment  set 
by  them  for  resuming  their  m^arch,  a  horseman,  approaching 
from  the  west,  suddenly  rode  up,  dismounted,  and  stood  before 
them. 

"Ah!  Phelps !^^  exclaimed  Colonel  Allen,  springing  up  and 
shaking  the  new  comer  heartily  by  the  hand,  "is  it  possible  ? — 
a  spy  returned  unhung  from  a  British  fort?  Well,  sir,  what 
news  from  the  camp  of  the  Philistines?'^ 

"Almost  everything  we  could  wish,  gentlemen,"  replied 
the  person  addressed,  a  Connecticut  gentlem.an  of  consider- 
able shrewdness  and  address,  who  had  been  dispatched  a  day 
or  two  prcAdous  to  go  over  to  the  fort,  enter  it  on  some  feigned 
errand,  and  gain  the  best  knowledge  of  its  situation  the  cir- 
cumstances would  permit.  "I  have  been  within  the  fort — 
mostly  over  the  works — staid  there  last  night,  and  came  away 
unsuspected  this  morning." 

Phelps  then  proceeded  to  give  an  account  of  the  manner 
he  had  effected  his  discoveries  at  the  fort,  without  exciting 
the  suspicions  of  the  garrison,  relative  to  the  object  of  his 
visit — how,  in  the  assumed  character  of  a  green  country 
bumpkin,  he  made  it  his  ostensible  errand  to  see  a  war-can- 
non, and  also  the  strange  man  what  shaved  other  men,  called 
a  barber — how  the  soldiers  laughed  at  his  pretended  ignor- 
ance, and  the  officers,  coming  to  see  the  green  Yankee,  amused 
themselves  by  questioning  him,  and  listening  to  his  replies, 
at  which  they  were  amazingly  tickled,  and  then  ordered  a 
twenty-four  pounder  to  be  fired,  for  the  fun  of  witnessing  the 
prodigious  fright,  into  which  the  report  appeared  to  throw 
him.  And,  finally,  having  induced  him,  after  man}^  en- 
treaties, to  permit  the  barber  to  shave  him,  how  they  all 
stood  by  to  see  the  performance,  laughing  heartily  at  the 
wincing  and  woeful  countenances  he  assumed,  and  the  fears 
he  pretended  of  having  his  throat  cut. 

After  finishing  his  diverting  descrij)tion  of  this  part  of  his 


THE    GREEN    MOUNTAIN    BOYS.  189 

adventures^  lie  detailed  with  great  accuracy  tlie  situation  of 
the  fortress,  the  names  and  grades  of  the  officers,  and  the 
number  of  the  garrison. 

"But,  gentlemen/'  said  he,  in  conclusion,  "there  is  one 
question  which  I  will  no  longer  delay  to  ask  you.  Have  you 
made  provision  for  boats  to  transport  the  troops  across  the 
lake?  There  is  not  a  single  craft  larger  than  a  skiff  on  this 
side,  just  now,  within  ten  miles  of  the  fort." 

"God  forgive  me  the  oversight!"  exclaimed  Allen.  "We 
must  instantly  set  measures  on  foot  for  repairing  it.  Doug- 
lass— Lieutenant  Douglass,  step  forward  here  a  moment! 
What  boats  are  there  this  side  the  lake  to  the  north  of  this?" 

"An  excellent  scow  for  our  purpose  is  owned  by  the  Smiths, 
a  few  miles  this  side  of  Crown  Point,"  replied  the  blue-eyed 
and  broad-shonldered  descendant  of  his  Caledonian  name- 
sakes, stepping  promptly  forward,  and  comprehending  at  a 
glance  the  emergency  that  produced  the  question. 

"The  Smiths?  Good!  They  are  Avith  us,  too,  in  heart,  and 
should  be  also  in  person,"  rejoined  the  Colonel.  "Well,  their 
scow  we  must  have  at  all  events.  And  you,  Douglass,  are  the 
very  man  to  go  and  get  it.    Will  you  do  it?" 

"I  am  the  very  man  who  is  willing  to  try.  Colonel  Allen," 
answered  the  other. 

"And  can  you  reach  the  landing  against  Ti.  with  it  by  nine 
o'clock  this  evening?" 

"Hardly,  I  fear.  -  It  is  nearly  a  dozen  miles;  but  I'll  do  my 
best.  Colonel." 

"Go,  then,  as  if  the  devil  kicked  you  on  end.  The  salvation 
of  our  project  may  depend  upon  your  getting  back  in  season. 
But  stay!  We  must  have  more  boats  than  one.  To  the 
South,  I  know  of  none.  Perhaps  you  may  meet  with  some 
going  up  or  down  the  lake,  which  might  be  pressed  into  the 
service;  or,  as  the  last  resort,  one  might  possibly  be  got  away 
from  Crown  Point  without  a  discovery  which  would  endanger 
us.  Another  man,  however,  will  be  wanted  for  any  of  these 
purposes,  besides  the  oarsmen  you  will  pick  up  on  your  way. 
And — Jones!  this  way!  Have  you  heard  what  we  aje  at? 
Very  well.  You  are  just  the  chap  to  go  on  this  hap-hazard 
errand.  What  say  you?  Can  you  bring  anything  to  pass,  if 
we  send  you?" 

"Why,  I  can't  exactly  say,  Colonel,"  replied  Jones,  placing 
his  feet  astride,  and  looking  up  with  one  eye  queerly  cocked 


190  THE    GREEN   MOUNTAIN   BOYS. 

on  his  interrogator^  wliile  the  other  was  tightly  closed:  "I 
ain't  so  much  of  a  water  fowl  as  some;  but^  perhaps,  I  mought 
make  fetch  come  a  little/' 

"Pack  up  then,  and  be  off  with  Douglass  in  two  minutes; 
and  remember,  both  of  you,  if  you  fail  us — " 

"Then  what?"  asked  Jones,  suddenly  stopping  and  looking 
back.  "I  don't  calculate  to  be  over  particular.  Colonel,  but  if 
it  wouldn't  be  too  much  trouble,  I  should  like  to  know  that, 
before  we  start." 

"You  shall  be  doomed  to  sit  forty  days  and  nights  in  sack- 
cloth and  ashes,"  humorously  said  Allen. 

"By  Jonah!"  exclaimed  Pete,  "the  boats  shall  be  there  by 
the  time.  Colonel!" 

While  the  latter  part  of  this  dialogue  was  going  on,  War- 
rington stood  with  his  back  to  the  company,  with  one  foot 
on  a  log,  busily  engaged  in  writing  with  his  pencil  on  a  blank 
leaf,  torn  from  his  pocket  book  and  placed  on  his  knee. 

"Aha!  my  lad,"  said  Allen,  in  a -playful  undertone,  as  he 
approached  the  former,  and  significantly  placed  one  finger  on 
his  shoulder,  "more  faith  now,  than  when  we  two  were  lying 
on  the  hay,  in  the  Captain's  barn,  waiting  for  our  rifles,  eh?" 

"I  really  wish  you  would  mind  your  own  business.  Colonel," 
replied  Warrington,  with  affected  anger. 

"Well,  well,"  resumed  Allen,  laughing,  "send  it,  my  boy. 
Mars,  they  say,  never  prospers  so  well  as  when  he  has  Cupid  in 
his  train,  in  any  case.  But  with  such  a  piece  of  God's  handi- 
work, as  yours,  to  incite  to  action — heavens!  if  the  knights  of 
old  had  been  blest  with  such  lady-loves,  they  would  never 
have  needed  to  carry  half  a  hundred  .weight  of  old  iron  on 
their  lubberly  carcasses  to  make  them  heroes." 

Stripping  off  their  coats  to  fit  them  for  a  rapid  march,  these 
athletic  and  resolute  woodsmen  now  seized  their  rifles,  took 
a  glance  at  the  sun  for  a  hasty  calculation  of  the  bearing  of 
the  course  to  be  taken  to  lead  them  to  their  proposed  destina- 
tion, and,  plunging  into  the  woods,  were  soon  lost  to  the  sight 
of  their  companions. 

A  small  guard  was  then  sent  on  in  advance,  with  orders  to 
pick  up  and  detain  every  man  on  the  road,  not  in  the  secret  of 
the  expedition.  Scouts  to  range  the  woods  on  the  right  and 
left,  were  also  dispatched  for  the  same  purpose;  after  whicli 
the  main  body  of  the  forces  quietly  resumed  their  march  for 
the  lake. 


THE   GREEN   MOUNTAIN   BOYS.  191 


CHAPTER  II. 


"There  are  strange  movements  among  all  the  troop. 
And  no  one  knows  the  same." 


Leaving  Allen  and  Ms  companions  in  arms  to  make  their 
way  to  the  lake  shore,  we  will  now,  by  way  of  marking  the 
progress  of  the  two  active  foresters,  who  had  been  dispatched 
northward  for  boats,  change  the  scene,  for  a  short  time,  to 
the  quiet  residence  of  Captain  Hendee. 

It  was  a  little  past  sunset  on  the  evening  of  the  day  on 
which  the  events  last  described  transpired.  It  had  been  a  day 
of  iinnsual  stillness  in  the  northern  part  of  the  Grants.  The 
lively  sonnds  of  the  plying  axmen,  which  were  usually  heard 
ringing  through  the  forests  in  every  direction,  were  all 
hushed.  The  women  went  a  visiting,  and  were  seen  to  whisper 
in  the  corners  apart  from  the  children.  The  boys  finished 
their  tasks  by  noon,  and  for  the  remainder  of  the  day  were 
sauntering  round  the  brooks  with  their  fishing-poles.  All  the 
active  men  had  disappeared;  though  no  one  mentioned  aloud 
the  cause  of  their  absence.  And  a  sort  of  Sabbath-day  quiet 
and  inaction  seemed  to  prevail  over  all  this  section  of  the  set- 
tlement. Captain  Hendee  was  sitting  in  his  open  door,  en- 
joying, as  usual,  his  evening  pipe,  and  wrapped  in  that  placid 
and  contemplative  mood  to  which  this  indulgence  generally 
disposes.  His  daughter  was  seated  near  him  at  a  window, 
in  an  attitude  equally  calm  and  contemplative,  though  en- 
grossed with  reflections,  probabl}^,  of  a  far  different  nature: 
for  her  fair  white  hand  rested  on  a  small  volume  lying  on 
the  window-sill  before  her,  opened  upon  those  heart-melting 
strains  of  the  hapless  Eloise,  which  Pope,  that  master  of 
rhyme  and  marrer  of  reason,  sung  with  such  seductive  sweet- 
ness; and  her  tear-moistened  eye  was  fixed,  pensively  and  un- 
observant, on  the  slumbering  vv^aters  of  the  outspread  lake; 
while  occasionally  a  gentle  sigh,  betokening  the  inward  con- 
flicts of  hope  and  fear,  was  heaving  her  snowy  bosom.  While 
13 


192  THE    GREEN    MOUNTAIN    BOYS. 

the  father  and  daughter  were  thus  seated^  and  their  minds 
thus  absorbed  in  their  different  trains  of  reflection,  their  at- 
tention was  suddenly  arrested  by  the  sounds  of  advancing 
footsteps. 

"By  all  the  saints  in  the  calendar!"  exclaimed  the  Captain, 
after  gazing  an  instant  in  surprise  at  the  striking  proportions 
of  our  young  Anak  of  the  woods,  for  it  was  no  other  than 
Pete  Jones,  who,  at  the  distance  of  eight  or  ten  rods,  was 
now  seen  stalking  towards  the  house,  "what  a  cloud-brusher 
is  there.  Alma!    Can  you  imagine  who  he  may  be?" 

"No,  father,"  replied  Alma,  who  was  also  looking  at  the  ap- 
proaching visitor  with  an  expression  of  mingled  wonder  and 
curiosity;  "but  I  just  noticed  that  Young  Tyler  and  Wilcox 
of  this  neighborhood  passed  beyond  the  barn  yonder,  and  I 
conclude  that  this  man  is  some  friend  of  theirs.  They  are 
probably  all  going  on  some  fishing  excursion.  The  man,  I 
presume,  wishes, to  get  a  little  fire  for  this  purpose." 

By  this  time  Jones  had  reached  the  door  in  which  the  Cap- 
tain was  sitting. 

"Good  evening!  Will  you  walk  in,  sir?"  said  the  latter  in 
an  indifferent  tone,  and  without  moving,  as  if  he  expected  the 
other  would  decline  the  invitation,  and  announce  his  errand 
at  his  door. 

"Why,  yes,  I  may  as  well,  replied  Jones,  offering  to  pass  in 
without  appearing  to  notice  the  hesitating  and  inquiring  look 
of  the  Captain,  who  now  at  once  yielded  the  space  to  his 
guest.  "You  see  I  was  bred  to  manners,"  continued  the 
woodsman,  jocosely  bowing,  so  as  to  enable  liim  to  enter 
the  door. 

The  Captain,  smiling  good  naturedly  at  the  remark,  handed 
Jones  a  chair,  took  another  himself,  and  waited  in  silence,  and 
with  the  same  expecting  air  as  before,  for  the  stranger  to 
name  his  business.  This,  however,  Jones  did  not  seem  ready 
to  make  known,  but  continued  sitting  in  silence,  with  a  puz- 
zled and  undecided  air,  as  if  greatly  at  loss  what  to  say,  or 
how  to  bring  about  some  object  he  had  in  view,  now  glancing 
at  the  Captain,  now  at  the  different  objects  about  the  room, 
and  now  at  Miss  Hendee,  on  whom  his  eyes  lingered  with  an 
expression  of  unfeigned  admiration. 

"Very  fine  weather,  this,"  remarked  the  Captain,  by  way  of 
breaking  the  silence,  which  he  seemed  to  think  was  becoming 
a  little  awkward. 


THE    GREEN   MOUNTAIN    BOYS.  193 

"Very;  considering  the  times^  and  the  state  of  the  nation," 
responded  Pete,  dryly,  and  with  the  manner  of  one  who  would 
show  that  he  is  too  busy  in  thought  to  engage  in  conversa- 
tion. 

The  Captain  then  made  some  other  commonplace  obser- 
vation, which  met  with  no  reply  of  any  kind;  when  finding 
himself  thus  defeated  in  every  attempt  to  draw  the  other  into 
conversation,  and  tired  of  waiting  for  him  to  name  his  er- 
rand, he  mthdrew  his  attention,  and  sunk  into  his  own 
reveries. 

After  Jones  had  sat  a  while  longer  chewing  his  cud  of  per- 
plexity, a  change  appeared  suddenly  to  come  over  him.  A 
flash  of  intelligence  and  decision  lit  up  his  countenance. 
And,  after  dropj)ing  his  head  an  instant,  as  if  settling  the 
details  of  a  plan  which  he  appeared  to  have  hit  upon,  he 
slowly  drew  up  his  features  into  a  sober  and  troubled  air,  and 
began  to  catch  his  breath,  and  shiver  all  over,  like  a  man 
taken  with  an  ague  fit.  He  then  rose,  tottled  across  the  floor 
to  the  hearth,  raked  open  the  fire  and  spread  his  shaking 
hands  over  the  coals,  at  the  same  time  attempting  to  speak 
as  he  observed  the  eyes  of  the  Captain  and  his  daughter  were 
turned  upon  him  with  a  look  of  lively  concern. 

"0,  nev — never  mind!" — he  said,  articulating  with  great 
apparent  difficulty,  in  his  attempt  to  quiet  their  alarm, — 
"  'twill  s — s — soon  be  o — o — over  now — though  the — the — 
these  swamp  ag — ag — agues  are  bad  while  they  last.  You, 
you  don't — keep — ^l^eep  great  fires — here — I — I — I  see." 

"We  will  have  one  in  a  moment,  my  friend,"  said  the  Cap- 
tain, leaping  up  at  this  hint,  and  hobbling  out  of  doors  after 
wood,  with  unwonted  activity. 

No  sooner  was  the  old  gentleman  fairly  out  of  sight  than 
Jones's  malady-  entirely  disappeared.  He  quickly  drew  out  a 
billet,  and  turning,  tossed  it  into  the  lap  of  the  astonished 
Miss  Hendee. 

"Here,  mum,"  said  he,  in  a  low,  confidential  tone,  "there's 
no  time  to  be  polite;  but  read  that,  and  if  you  want  to  scrab- 
ble off  two  lines,  or  so,  in  answer,  contrive  to  get  it  into  my  old 
hat  there  on  the  table,  in  almost  no  time,  as  I'm  in  a  taking  of 
a  hurry.    But  stay,  where's  the  Indian?" 

"He  has  gone  to  take  a  letter  for  me  to  Major  Skene's 
colored  man,  now  lying  with  his  boat  down  here  at  the  land- 
ing, I  believe,"  replied  the  blushing  girl,  already  on  her  way 
13 


194  THE    GREEN    MOUNTAIN   BOYS. 

to  her  apartment  to  read  and  answer  the  billet,  which  a  glance 
at  the  hand-writing  told  her  was  from  her  accepted  lover. 

^'That^s  lucky/'  said  Jones;  "now  I  want  that  chap  to  go 
with  ns.  We  have  got  a  trifling  chore  to  do  to-night  some- 
where in  the  neighborhood  of  Old  Ti.  Had  I  better  speak 
to  the  old  gentleman  about  his  going  or  notT 

"My  father  should  be  consulted,  and  yet/' — answered  Alma^ 
hesitating  lest  the  suggested  application  to  Captain  Hendee 
might  in  some  way  lead  to  a  discovery  of  her  own  secret — "1 
heard  him  promise  Neshobee's  services  to  Colonel  Allen  for 
such  an  emergency.  Perhaps  you  had  better  consult  no  one 
but  Neshobee  himself,  and  if  he  is  willing  to  go,  I  will  stand 
his  friend  in  defending  the  delinquency,  if  such  it  be." 

Captain  Hendee  now  returned  with  the  wood,  and  found 
Pete's  ague  much  as  he  left  it.  But  as  the  fire  blazed  up  from 
the  light  combustibles  which  had  been  thrown  onto  it,  the 
attack  seemed  gradually  to  subside.  Meanwhile,  Alma  had 
retired,  read  the  brief  out-pouring-  of  her  lover's  heart,  and 
penned  in  answer — 

/Trom  my  heart  I  thank  you  for  your  kind  note.  All  as 
3^et  remains  undiscovered, — painful,  painful  exigency!  which 
compels  concealment  of  so  important  a  step  from  an  only 
parent!  And  yet  I  regret  not  my  troth;  and  whatever  of  sor- 
row it  -may  cost  me,  I  will  not  repine  at  the  fruit  of  a  tree  of 
my  own  planting.  Heaven  preserve  you,  my  very  dear  friend, 
in  the  hour  of  peril,  and  crown  with  success  j^our  efforts  in  the 
cause  of  freedom. 

Yours,  but  too  truly, 

A.  H." 

By  the  time  Alma  had  completed  her  note,  and  managed  on 
her  return  to  the  room,  to  slip  it,  unobserved,  into  the  desig- 
nated place  of  deposit,  Jones  had  so  far  recovered  from  his 
pretended  indisposition,  that  he  announced  himself  in  a  con- 
dition for  proceeding  on  his  way.  And  taking  a  coal  of  fire^ 
between  a  couple  of  chips,  by  way  of  accounting  to  the  Cap- 
tain for  his  call,  and  stopping  a  moment  to  listen  to  the  sagej 
nostrums  recommended  by  his  host  to  prevent  the  recurrence] 
of  his  ague,  he  departed,  and  joined  his  two  newly  enlisted! 
associates,  who  were  impatiently  awaiting  his  coming  in  the! 
adjoining  field,    It  being  now  m^cientlj  dusk  to  prevent  all 


THE    GREEN    MOUNTAIN    BOYS.  195 

observation  from  the  opposite  garrison^  they  proceeded  im- 
mediately to  the  hmding,  which  they  found  guarded  by  two 
Green  Mountain  Boys,  who,  making  fishing  their  ostensible 
business,  had,  in  pursuance  of  the  arrangement  before  men- 
tioned, closely  watched  the  place  during  the  two  preceding 
days.  Here,  also,  they  met  JMeshobee,  who  had  just  returned 
in  a  skiff,  from  Major  Skene^s  scow,  in  possession,  as  before 
intimated,  of  a  stout  negro,  who,  with  two  low,  sottish  fel- 
lows under  his  command,  having  spent  that  day  at  the  fort  to 
take  in  some  loading,  and  visit  the  soldiers  previous  to  starting 
for  home,  as  they  intended  to  do,  the  next  morning,  had  come 
over  just  at  night  and  taken  a  fishing  station  near  the  land- 
ing. Jones  and  his  companions  hesitated  not  to  open  their 
project  of  obtaining  this  boat  to  N'eshobee,  who  very  cheer- 
fully agreed  to  co-operate  with  them  in  duping  the  negro, 
and  to  assist  in  rowing  ihe  boat  up  to  the  landing,  where  they 
were  to  be  met  by  Allen^s  forces.  The  boat  was  lying  about  a 
dozen  rods  from  the  shore;  and  black  Jack,  as  he  was  called, 
and  his  men,  having  pulled  up  their  anchor,  were  now  on  the 
point  of  putting  back  for  the  fort;  when  the  party  on  shore, 
their  plan  of  operations  being  all  arranged,  hailed  the  black 
commander,  and  desired  him  to  haul  up  to  the  landing. 

"Who  the  debil  you,  who  want  me  do  all  dat  for  notting?^' 
replied  Jack,  in  a  swaggering,  consequential  tone. 

"0,  pull  up  to  the  shore,"  said  AYilcox,  "there  are  three  or 
four  of  us  here  who  are  wishing  to  make  a  bargain  with  you." 

"Bargain,  hey?  you  shackaroons,  you!  You  tink  for  play 
some  deblish  trick,  don't  you?  Guess  you  find  out  you  no 
catch  weazel  sleep  so  easy  as  all  dat  come  to!"  responcled  the 
negro,  chuckling  at  his  own  wit  and  sagacity. 

"No,  now,  honestly.  Captain  Jack,"  rejoined  the  first  speak- 
er, "we  want  to.  go  to  Shoreham  landing  to-night,  to  be  ready 
to  join  a  wolf  hunt  which  they  are  going  to  start  there  early 
to-morrow  morning." 

"Gosh  all  fire-lock!"  exclaimed  the  black,  whose  opinion  of 
his  own  importance  was  greatly  raised  by  being  addressed  as 
Captain:  "You  tink  I  row  my  boat  all  de  way  up  dar  in  de 
dark  jest  for  commodate  you?    ISTo!   see  you  all  dam  fus!" 

"ISTow  you  are  too  bad,  Captain;  but  you  won't  damn  our 
jug  of  old  Jamaica,  that  we  intended  to  offer  you  for  carry- 
ing us  up  there,  will  you?"  said  the  other,  taking  a  jug  from 
under  his  coat  and  swinging  it  over  his  head,  so  that  the 


196  THE    GREEN    MOUNTAIN    BOYS. 

black,  whose  taste  for  liquor  was  well  known  to  the  young 
men,  might  catch  a.  view  of  it  in  the  tvvdlight. 

"What  yon  say,  dere?"  eagerly  said  Jack,  stretching  for- 
ward his  neck  to  see,  and  make  sure  of  the  existence  of  the 
tempting  implement. 

"We  say,^^  replied  the  former,  "that  here  is  a  gallon  of  as 
good  rum  as  ever  run  down  your  throat,  which  is  at  your  ser- 
vice, if  you  will  close  the  bargain.  Come,  give  us  your  answer, 
for  if  we  can't  make  a  trade  with  you,  we  must  be  off  for  a 
boat  somewhere  else.  What  say  you? — and  mind  ye,  we  will 
lend  you  a  stiff  hand  at  the  oars  to  boot.'' 

"You  help  row  de  boat,  you  say?"  answered  Jack,  in  an 
altered  and  yielding  tone.  "\"\niy  de  debit  you  no  say  so  fore? 
Dat  be  a  case  dat  alter  de  circumstance.  You  werry  much  to 
blame,  gemmen,  dat  you  no  mention  so  portant  a  difference  in 
fus  place,"  added  the  negro,  while  he  and  his  men  headed 
roimd  the  boat,  and  handled  the  oars  with  such  effect  that 
nearly  the  next  moment  she  was  lying  at  the  landing. 

Within  five  minutes  from  this  time,  the  magic  jug,  which 
had  effected  such  a  wonderful  change  in  the  aspect  of  affairs, 
having  been  well  tested  in  the  meanwhile  by  Jack  and  his 
associates,  all  hands  were  stripped  and  bending  to  the  oars  of 
the  old  scow,  which,  under  the  forceful  strokes  of  Jones  and 
his  party,  aided  by  the  rum-j)ower  of  Jack's  two  besotted  boat- 
men, was  surging  through  the  waters  towards  the  south,  as 
fast  as  their  united  strength  would  drive  her. 

They  were  soon  met,  however,  by  puffs  of  south  wind, 
against  which  they  found  it  impossible  to  make  but  a  very 
slow  headway.  And  it  was  not  till  considerable  past  mid- 
night that  they  came  to  the  last  reach,  and  hove  in  sight  of  the 
destined  landing.  But  here,  overhauling  Douglass  with  the 
other  scow,  and  the  party  he  had  enlisted  to  help  man  it,  both 
boats,  with  renewed  efforts  of  rival  speed,  pushed  forward 
for  the  appointed  shore. 

"Boat  ahoy!"  called  out  Allen  from  the  landing,  where,  as 
the  boats  neared  the  place,  his  huge,  tower-like  form,  rising 
in  bold  relief  over  the  stationary  group  of  officers  around  him, 
could  now  plainly  be  discerned  by  the  approaching  crews: 
'HDoat  ahoy!    wdio  comes  there?" 

"Douglass  and  friends,  in  this,"  was  the  reply  from  the  first 
boat,  coming  in  about  its  lengtli  in  advance  of  the  other. 

"And  who  in  the  next?"  asked  Allen. 


THE    GREEN    MOUNTAIN    BOYS.  197 

"Jones  and  a  thunder  clond!"  responded  the  well  known 
voice  of  the  jolly  woodsman.  "iTow  yon  needn^t  think  I  am 
fibbing,  Colonel;  for  yon  will  see  it  lighten  when  we  get 
ashore." 

^'All  is  well,  then/'  said  Allen,  without  heeding  the  re- 
marks of  Jones,  further  than  his  announcement  of  himself 
with  a  boat,  "all  is  well,  and  glory  to  Grod  in  the  highest,  that 
you  have  got  here  at  last!  I  thought  you  would  have  never 
come.  Why,  it  has  been  an  age  since  dark!  Some  old  sun- 
stopping  Joshua  must  be  fighting  on  the  other  side  of  the 
earth,  or,  I  swear,  it  would  have  been  daylight  long  ago !" 

By  this  time  the  first  boat  had  struck  the  shore,  and  the 
crew,  leaping  out,  were  all  readily  recognized  by  the  leader, 
who  then  turned  to  the  other  boat,  at  that  instant  driving  up, 
with  the  astonished  and  frightened  negro  (now  for  the  first 
time  mistrusting  a  trick),  gibbering  and  sputtering  aloud, — 

"What  de  hell  all  dis? — who  all  dese?  what  pretty  dam 
scrape  you  got  me  into  here,  you  shackaroon  debils,  you?" 

"What  in  the  name  of  all  that  is  black  and  red  have  you 
got  here,  Jones?"  cried  Allen,  in  surprise,  stepping  up  and 
peering  into  the  boat,  on  hearing  Jack's  exclamations. 

"Why,  just  what  I  told  you.  Colonel.  Here!  don't  you  see 
it  lighten,  now?"  said  Pete,  pointing  to  the  negro's  eyes, 
which,  glaring  wide  with  fear  and  astonishment,  at  what  he 
saw  and  heard,  glimmered  like  fire-bugs  in  the  dark.  "But 
the  English  of  it  is,  Colonel,  that  we  came  across  Major 
Skene's  scow,  commanded  b}^  Captain  Darke}'-,  with  his  two 
oarsmen,  here,  who  for  a  gallon  of  rum  were  kind  enough  to 
bring  us  along  to  join  a  hunting  match  at  Shoreham,  where 
we  have  now  arrived,  safe  and  sound,"  he  continued,  turning 
to  the  black,  "so  now.  Captain  Jack,  you  have  fulfilled  your 
bargain  with  us-;  and  we  have  nothing  more  to  say,  as  far  as 
we  are  concerned.  If  these  rough  looking  chaps  here  want  to 
employ  you  further,  they  will  let  you  know  it,  likely." 

"Jones,  you  deserve  a  pension  for  life!"  exclaimed  xlllen, 
comprehending  the  whole  affair  in  an  instant.  "You  and  your 
friends  here,  have  killed  more  birds  with  one  stone  than  you 
dreamed  of  yourselves,  perhaps.  But  we  have  not  a  moment 
to  lose,  so  leap  out,  my  lads.  And  as  to  Major  Skene's  boat, 
it  is  my  lawful  prize;  and  Major  Skene's  negro,  and  Major 
Skene's  negro's  understrappers  here,  are  all  my  prisoners!" 

"0,  no,  totally  unpossible  to  stop,  gemmen!"  said  .Tack,  in 


198  THE    GREEN    MOUNTAIN    BOYS. 

a  good  lord,  good  devil  sort  of  tone,  being  donbtfnl  whether 
they  really  intended  to  make  him  prisoner,  or  engage  him 
and  his  boat  to  carry  them  to  some  other  place.  "1  have 
provision  for  de  Major^s  family  aboard.  Dey  all  out  ob  supply 
for  dere  necessity.    Quite  unpossible,  gemmen.^^ 

"We  will  take  care  of  the  provisions.  So  out  with  you  in 
no  time,  you  black  Satan  !'^  said  Allen,  impatiently. 

"0,  it  be  out  ob  all  question  I  stop!'^  persisted  the  negro 
with  increasing  alarm,  "I  have  odder  portant  business — I  have 
letter  from  de  young  leddy  at  Captain  Hendee^s  to  de  young 
leddy  ob  Colonel  Eeed  at  de  Major's  dat  I  oblige  for  dehver, 
early  in  the  morning." 

"We  will  undertake  the  delivery  of  the  letter,"  said  Selden 
and  Warrington,  simultaneously. 

"Tumble  them  out,  boys!"  sternly  exclaimed  Allen. 

"0,  Lordy,  I  den  be  ruin!  totally,  foreber  ruin!"  groaned 
the  distressed  and  frightened  black,  as  the  men  seized  him  and 
his  two  drunken  associates,  and  led  them  to  the  rear  to  be 
put  under  guard. 

The  boats  were  now  instantly  headed  round,  the  oars 
m-uffled,  careful  oarsmen  selected  and  placed  in  their  seats; 
when,  after  each  boat  had  been  filled  with  as  many  trooj)s  as 
their  respective  burthens  would  safely  permit,  they  pushed 
off  from  the  shore,  preceded  a  short  hailing  distance  by  a  skiff, 
occupied  by  Allen  and  Arnold,  with  Phelps  to  pilot  them  to 
their  contemplated  landing,  on  the  opposite  shore.  The  wind 
had  som.e  time  since  died  wholly  away;  and  the  elements  were 
now  all  hushed,  as  if  in  the  slumbers  of  death;  while  the 
deeply  freighted  crafts  glided  slowly  on,  impelled  by  the  light 
dip  of  the  feathery  oars,  which,  in  the  hands  of  the  experi- 
enced and  careful  men  who  plied  them,  unitedly  rose  and 
fell  as  noiseless  as  the  feet  of  fairies  on  beds  of  flowers.  At 
length  the  dark,  massy  walls  of  the  fortress,  looming  up,  and 
marking  their  broad  outlines  against  the  western  sk}",  be- 
came discernible  to  the  men.  And  yet^  as  they  drew  near 
these  frowning  walls,  pierced  by  a  hundred  cannon,  over 
which,  for  aught  they  knew,  the  lighted  matches  were  sus- 
pended, awaiting  but  the  signal  to  send  their  iron  showers  of 
death  to  every  man  of  their  devoted  band,  no  misgivings,  no 
weak  relentings  came  over  them:  but  at  a  moment  like  this, 
nnd  that  which  followed  at  the  onset, — moments,  furnishing, 
perhaps,  a  more  undoubted  test  of  courage  than  those  of  the 


THE    GREEN    MOUNTAIN    BOYS.  199 

half  frantic^  half  mechanical  charges  of  tlie  disciplined 
legions  of  Napoleon^  at  the  later  fields  of  Aiisterlitz  and 
Marengo — at  a  moment  like  this^  we  say,  their  stout  hearts, 
nothing  daunted  at  the  dangers  hefore  them,  beat  high  and 
proudl}^  at  the  thought  of  the  coming  encounter,  and  with 
stern  determination  gleaming  in  every  eye,  and  with  the  low 
whispered  words  of  impatience  for  the  moment  of  action  to 
arrive,  they  moved  steadily  on  to  the  daring  purpose. 

Passing  down  obliquely  by  the  works,  they  landed  some  dis- 
tance to  the  north  of  them.  The  instant  they  touched  the 
shore  the  troops  leaped  on  the  banks;  and  scarcely  had  the 
last  foot  been  lifted  from  the  boats  before  they  were  backed, 
wheeled,  and  on  their  return  for  another  load,  leaving  those 
on  shore  to  await  in  silence  the  arrival  of  a  reinforcement 
from  their  companions  left  behind,  before  marching  to  the 
onset.  Those  companions,  however,  were  not  destined  to 
share  in  the  glory  of  this  splendid  achievement  of  the  eighty 
Green  Mountain  Boys  who  had  landed;  for  in  a  few  moments, 
to  the  dismay  of  Allen,  the  faint  suffusions  of  dawning  day 
became  visible  in  the  east.  Cursing  the  luck  which  had 
caused  such  delays,  and  chafing  like  a  chained  lion  held  back 
from  his  prey,  that  impetuous  leader  for  a  few  moments  rapid- 
ly paced  the  shore  before  his  men,  in  an  agony  of  impatience 
— now  casting  an  eager  look  at  the  fort,  still  silent  and  un- 
disturbed, now  straining  his  vision  after  the  receding  boats, 
which,  to  him,  seemed  to  move  like  snails  across  the  waters, 
and  now  throwing  an  uneasy  glance  at  the  reddening  east, 
whose  twilight  glow,  growing  broader  and  brighter  every  in- 
stant, plainly  told  him  that  before  another  detachment  of 
troops  could  arrive,  his  forces  would  be  discovered,  and  the 
enterprise,  in  all  probability,  would  thus  be  defeated.  Mad- 
dened at  the  thought,  he  stopped  short  in  his  walk,  paused  an 
instant,  and  brought  his  foot  with  a  significant  stamp  to  the 
ground,  showing  that  his  resolution  was  taken.  And  quickly 
calling  out  Jones  and  jSTeshobee,  he  dispatched  them  to  go  for- 
ward, cautiously  reconnoiter  the  fort  on  all  sides,  and  return 
as  speedy  as  possible  to  report  their  discoveries.  He  then 
formed  his  men  in  three  ranks  and  addressed  them. 

"You  see,  my  friends  and  fellow  soldiers,"  he  commenced, 
pointing  his  sword  towards  the  east,  "that  daylight  will  re- 
veal us  to  the  enemy  before  a  reinforcement  can  possibly  ar- 
rive.    But  can  you,  who  have  so  long  been  the  scourge  of 


200  THE    GREEN    MOUNTAIN    BOYS. 

t3Tants^  bring  your  minds  to  relinquish  the  noble  enterprise, 
and  with  it  the  proud  name  you  have  achieved,  by  turning 
your  backs  on  the  glorious  prize,  when  it  is  now  almost  within 
your  grasp  ?^^ 

He  paused  for  a  reply;  when  "no!  no!  no!"  ran  through  the 
lines  in  eager  responses. 

"I  see,  I  see,  my  brave  fellows,"  resumed  the  gratified  lead- 
er, "I  see  what  you  would  do.  I  read  it  in  your  deeply 
breathed  tones  of  determination — in  your  quick  and  short 
drawn  respirations,  and  in  your  restless  and  impatient  move- 
ments. But  have  you  all  well  considered?  I  now  propose  to 
lead  you  through  yonder  gate;  and  I  fear  not  to  tell  men  of 
your  stamp,  that  we  incur  no  small  hazard  of  life  in  the  at- 
tempt. And,  as  I  would  urge  no  man  to  engage  against  his 
own  free  will,  I  now  give  free  and  full  permission  to  all  who 
choose  to  remain .  behind.  You,  therefore,  who  will  volun- 
tarily accom]Dany  me,  poise  your  guns." 

Every  man^s  gun  v/as  instantly  brought  to  a  poise,  with  a 
motion  which  told  with  what  good  will  it  was  made. 

"Grod  bless  you,  my  noble  fellows!"  exclaimed  Allen,  proud- 
ly, and  with  emotion:  "Courage  like  that" — he  continued,  in 
tones  of  concentrated  energy,  "courage  like  that,  with  hearts 
of  oak,  and  nerves  of  steel  like  yours,  must,  will,  andj  b}^  the 
help  of  the  God  of  hosts,  shall  triumph!  Come  on^  then!  fol- 
low me— march  while  I  march — run  and  rush  when  I  set  the 
example;  and  if  I  fall,  still  rush  on,  and  over  me,  to  ven- 
geance and  victory!    To  the  right  wheel!   march!" 

When  the  band  arrived  within  about  a  furlong  of  the  ram- 
parts, they  were  met  by  the  scouts,  who  reported  that  all  was 
quiet  in  and  about  the  fort,  while  the  open  gate  was  guarded 
only  by  one  sluggish  and  sleepy  looking  sentinel.  Halting  no 
longer  than  was  necessary  to  hear  this  re]3ort,  Allen,  placing 
himself  at  the  head  of  the  center  column,  silently  waved  his 
sword  to  the  troops  as  a  signal  for  resuming  the  march;  when 
they  all  again  moved  forward  with  rapid  but  cautious  steps 
towards  the  guarded  gateway.  And  so  noiseless  and  unex- 
pected was  their  approach,  that  they  came  within  twenty 
paces  of  the  entrance  before  they  were  discovered  b}^  the 
drowsy  sentry,  who  was  slowly  pacing  to  and  fro,  with  shoul- 
dered musket,  before  it.  Turning  round  with  a  start,  the 
aroused  soldier  glared  an  instant  at  the  advancing  array,  in 
mute  astonishment  and  alarm;   when  he  hastily  cocked,  and 


THE    GREEN    MOUNTAIN    BOYS.  201 

leveled  Ms  piece  at  Allen^  wlio  was  striding  towards  him,  sev- 
eral yards  in  advance  of  liis  men.  It  was  an  instant  on  whicli 
luing  the  fate  of  the  hero  of  the  Green  Mountains  and,  probab- 
ly, also  the  destinies  of  Ticonderoga.  But  the  gun  missed  fire. 
The  life  of  the  daring  leader  was  safe,  and  the  garrison  slept 
on,  unalarmed,  and  unconscious  of  their  danger.  Leaping 
forward  like  the  bounding  tiger  on  his  victim,  Allen  followed 
up  the  retreating  soldier  so  hotly  that,  with  all  the  speed 
which  fear  could  lend  him,  he  could  scarcely  keep  clear  of  the 
rapidly  whirling  sword  of  his  fiery  pursuer,  till  he  gained  the 
interior  of  the  fortress;  when  he  gave  a  loud  screech  of  alarm, 
and,  making  a  desperate  leap  for  a  bomb  proof,  disappeared 
within  its  recesses.  Meanwhile  the  rushing  column  of  troops 
came  sweeping  like  a  whirlwind  through  the  gate;  when  fair- 
ly gaining  the  parade  ground  in  front  of  the  barracks,  they 
gave  three  cheers  which  made  the  old  walls  tremble  with  the 
deafening  reverberations,  and  caused  the  slumbering  garrison 
to  start  from  their  beds  in  wild  dismay  at  the  unwonted  sound. 
Scarcely  had  the  last  huzza  escaped  the  lips  of  the  men  and 
their  leader,  who  disdained  not  to  mingle  his  own  stentorian 
voice  in  the  peals  of  exultation  and  defiance,  which  rose  in 
thunders  to  heaven,  before  the  latter  was  rapidly  threading 
his  way  through  flying  sentries  and  half  dressed  officers, 
towards  the  quarters  of  the  commandant  of  the  fortress. 
Pausing  an  instant  on  his  way,  to  chastise  a  dastard  sentinel 
whom  he  caught  making  a  pass  at  one  of  our  officers  with  his 
.bayonet,  and  whom,  with  one  blow  with  the  flat  of  his  sword, 
he  sent  reeling  to  the  earth  with  the  cry  of  mercy  on  his  lips, 
the  daring  leader  bounded  up  the  stairway  leading  to  the 
commandant's  room,  and  thundering  at  the  door,  called  loud- 
ly to  that  officer  to  come  forth.  Captain  La  Place,  who  had 
just  leaped  from  his  bed,  on  hearing  the  tumult  below,  soon 
made  his  appearance  with  his  clothes  in  his  hand,  but  sud- 
denly recoiling  a  step,  he  stood  gazing  in  mute  amazement  at 
the  stern  and  threatening  air,  and  the  powerful  and  com- 
manding figure  of  the  man  before  him. 

"I  come,  sir,  to  demand  the  immediate  surrender  of  this  for- 
tress!" sternly  said  Allen,  to  the  astonished  commander. 

"By  what  authority  do  you  make  this  bold  demand  of  His 
Majesty's  fort,  sir?"  said  the  other,  almost  distrusting  his 
senses. 

"By  what  authority?"  thundered  Allen,  "I  demand  it,  sir. 


202  THE   GREEN   MOUNTAIN   BOYS. 

in  the  name  of  the  Great  Jehovah  and  the  Continental  Con- 
gress !^^ 

"The  Continental  Congress?'^  stammered  the  hesitating  offi- 
cer.   "I  know  of  no  right — I  don't  acknowledge  it,  sir — '' 

"But  you  soon  will  acknowledge  it,  sir!"  fiercely  inter- 
rupted the  impatient  leader.  "And  hesitate  to  obey  me  one 
instant  longer,  and  by  the  eternal  heavens!  I  will  sacrifice 
every  man  in  your  fort! — ^beginning  the  work,  sir,"  he  added, 
Avhirling  his  sword  furiously  over  the  head  of  the  other,  and 
bringing  the  murderous  blade  at  every  glittering  circle  it 
made  in  the  air,  nearer  and  nearer  the  head  of  its  threatened 
victim,  "beginning  the  work,  sir,  by  sending  your  own  head 
dancing  across  this  floor!" 

"I  yield,  I  yield!"  cried  the  shrinking  commandant. 

"Down!  down,  then,  instantly!"  exclaimed  Allen,  "and 
communicate  the  surrender  to  your  men  while  any  of  them 
are  left  alive  to  liear  it." 

Scarcely  allowing  the  crest-fallen  officer  time  to  encase  his 
legs  in  his  breeches,  Allen  hurried  him  down  to  the  scene  of 
action,  in  the  open  parade  below.  Here  they  found  the  Green 
Mountain  Boys  eagerly  engaged  in  the  work  of  capturing  the 
garrison,  who  were  making  considerable  show  of  resistance. 
Two  of  the  barrack  doors  had  been  beaten  down,  and  about 
a  third  of  the  enemy  already  made  prisoners.  And  the  fiery 
Arnold  was  on  the  point  of  blowing  a  third  door  from  its 
hinges  with  a  swivel,  which  he  had  caused  to  be  drawn  up  for 
the  purpose;  while  a  fourth  was  shaking  and  tottering  under 
the  tremendous  blows  of  an  ax,  wielded  by  the  long  and 
powerful  arms  of  Pete  Jones,  who  was  found  among  the  fore- 
most in  the  contest. 

"Cease,  cease  ye  all!"  cried  Allen,  in  a  loud  voice  of  com- 
mand, as  he  appeared  among  them  with  La  Place  by  his 
side. 

"Now,  raaly,  Colonel,"  said  Jones,  suspending  his  elevated 
implement,  and  holding  it  back  over  his  head  in  readiness  for 
another  blow,  "I  wish  you  would  let  me  settle  with  this  devel- 
ish  old  oak  door  before  I  stop.  Why,  I  never  was  so  bothered 
with  such  a  small  potato  in  my  life!" 

"No,  no!"  answered  the  other,  smiling,  "let  us  have  silence 
a  moment,  and  we  will  save  you  all  troubles  of  that  kind." 

"Well,  then,  here  goes  for  a  parting  blessing!"  exclaimed 
the   woodsman,   bringing  down  his  ax  with   a  tremendous 


THE    GREEN    MOUNTAIN    BOYS.  203 

blow,  which  brought  the  shattered  door  tumbling  to  the 
ground. 

The  British  commandant  then  calling  his  officers  around 
him,  informed  them  that  he  had  surrendered  the  fortress,  and 
ordered  them  to  parade  the  men  without  arms.  While  this 
was  in  performance,  a  second  detachment  of  Green  Mountain 
Boys  reached  the  shore,  and,  having  eagerly  hastened  on  to 
the  fort  to  join  their  companions,  now  with  Warrington  at 
their  head,  came  pouring  into  the  arena.  A  single  glance 
sufficed  to  tell  the  latter,  that  he  was  too  late  to  participate 
in  aught  but  the  fruits  of  the  victory.  With  a  disappointed 
and  mortified  air  he  halted  his  men,  and  aj)proached  to  the 
side  of  his  leader. 

"Ah!  Colonel,"  said  he,  "is  this  the  way  you  appropriate  all 
the  laurels  to  yourself,  entirely  forgetful  of  your  friends?" 

"Pooh!  pooh!  Charles,"  replied  Allen,  turning  to  the  other 
with  a  soothing,  yet  self-complaisant  smile,  at  the  half-re- 
proachful compliment  thus  conveyed,  "you  need  not  mourn 
much  lost  glory  in  this  affair.  Why,  the  stupid  devils  did  not 
give  us  fight  enough  to  whet  our  appetites  for  breakfast!  But 
never  mind,  Charles,  there  is  more  business  yet  to  be  done; 
Crown  Point  and  Major  Skene's  stone  castle  must  both  be  ours 
to-night.  The  taking  of  the  first  shall  be  yours  to  perform. 
And  after  breakfast  and  a  few  bumpers  in  honor  of  our  vic- 
tory, we  will  dispatch  you  for  that  purpose,  with  a  corps  of 
your  own  selection.'- 

"Thank  you,  thank  you.  Colonel,"  replied  the  other  with  a 
grateful  smile.  But  the  expedition  to  Skenesboro' — may  I 
not  speak  a  word  for  our  friend,  Selden!" 

"Aha!"  replied  Allen,  laughing,  "then  this  offer  to  take 
charge  of  the  negro's  letter  had  its  meaning,  eh?  I  don't 
know  exactly  about  that  chip  of  a  British  Colonel  for  a 
Yankee  patriot.  Now,  yours,  Major,  I  acknowledge  to  be  a 
true  Cynosure.  But  his,  I  fear,  will  prove  a  Dog-star.  How- 
ever, this  is  his  own  hunt;  and  as  he  is  a  finished  fellow,  and, 
doubtless,  brave  and  true,  I  think  I  will  give  him  the  com- 
mand of  the"  expedition  unless  claimed  by  Easton.  But  hush! 
the  commandant  is  about  to  go  through  the  forms  of  the  sur- 
render.   I  must  away,  but  will  see  you  again." 

The  brief  ceremonies  of  the  surrender  were  soon  over; 
when,  as  the  fortress  was  pronounced  to  be  in  full  possession 
pf  the  con(^iTerors^  the  hea.Yen,s  were  ^gain  rent  by  the  yeiter" 


204  THE    GREEN   MOUNTAIN   BOYS. 

ated  huzzas  of  the  Green  Mountain  Boys,  while  British  cannon 
were  made  to  peal  forth  with  their  deep-mouthed  thunders  to 
the  tremhling  hills  and  reverberating  mountains  of  the  coun- 
try around,  the  proclamation  of  victory! — the  first  triumph 
of  Young  Freedom  over  the  arms  of  her  haughty  oppressor. 


CHAPTER  III. 


"A  thousand  evil  things  there  are  that  hate 
To  look  on  happiness;    these  hurt  impede, 
And  leagued  with  time,  circumstance  and  fate. 
Keep  kindred  heart  from  heart,  to  pine  and  pant  and  bleed." 

— Mrs.  Brooks. 


It  is  time,  perhaps,  that  we  should  recur  a  little,  to  trace  the 
operations  of  some  personages  of  our  story,  whose  agency, 
though  unnoted  by  us  through  several  of  the  last  chapters,  had 
yet,  in  the  meanwhile,  been  actively  exercised  in  bringing 
about  the  events  that  were  destined  to  follow.  And  it  is  with 
a  sort  of  reluctance  of  feeling  that  we  turn  from  the  soul- 
kindhng  task  of  describing  the  noble  exploits  of  Allen  and 
his  patriot  companions,  to  the  low  and  despicable  plottings  of 
the  base  Shervfood,  and  his  still  more  execrable  associate  in 
crime.  Though  twice  foiled  in  his  attempts  to  procure  the 
destruction  of  Warrington,  under  the  sanction  of  a  despotic 
law,  of  which  advantage  was  taken  mainly  to  cloak  the  true 
motives  of  the  act, — though  signally  defeated  in  this,  and 
the  bolder  attempt  at  assassination,  which  was  subsequently 
made  at  his  instigation,  yet  still  restless  as  the  dark  spirit  of 
evil,  this  plotter  of  mischief,  instead  of  relinquishing  his  ob- 
ject, was  now  only  the  more  intently  engaged  in  devising  and 
putting  in  practice,  new  ways  of  accomplishing  his  nefarious 
designs. 

On  the  evening  that  Darrow  had  attempted  the  life  of  War- 
rington in  the  woods,  Sherwood  was  sitting  in  his  house, 
which  was  kept  by  a  simple  couple,  wholly  in  the  interests  of 
their  employer.  He  had  just  arrived  from  a  visit  to  the  house 
of  Captain  Hendee,  where,  as  the  reader  has  been  apprised,  he: 
had  been  sowing  the  seeds  of  discord  in  that  hapless  family. 


THE    GREEN    MOUNTAIN    BOYS.  205 

And  the  chilly  reception  with  which  his  parting  advances  had 
been  met  by  the  indignant  girl,  whom  they  were  intended  to 
soften  and  deceive,  more  than  ever  confirming  him  in  what 
his  jealonsv  had  long  since  suggested,  that  her  inclinations 
were  setting  strongly  towards  his  hated  rival,  and  foreseeing 
that  something  mnst  speedily  be  done  to  counteract  the  cur- 
rent, he  was  now  revolving  over  the  different  schemes  that 
rose  in  his  teeming  brain  for  effecting  his  purpose,  in  case  of 
the  failure  of  his  minion  to  remove  the  object  alike  of  his 
hatred  and  his  fears.  While  thus  occupied  in  mind,  DarroAv, 
whose  coming  was  not  wholly  unlooked  for,  arrived,  and 
sulkily  entered  the  apartment. 

"Ah,  Darrow!"  exclaimed  Sherwood,  with  his  usual  hypo- 
critical smile,  "very  glad  to  see  you.  I  knew  not  whether  you 
would  come  to-night,  or  return  to  the  fort.^^ 

"Why,'^  replied  the  other,  "when  I  concluded  to  give  it  up 

for  a  cl n  bad  day's  work,  I  found  myself  nearer  your 

house  than  the  fort;   so  I  came,  that's  all." 

"Glad  you  did.  So  come,  unrig,  and  sit  down.  The  old 
woman,  in  the  other  room,  will  have  us  some  supper  ready 
soon.  But  no  luck  with  your  rifle  to-day?"  said  Sherwood, 
with  a  significant  smile. 

"None — except  getting  half  tired  to  death,  in  this  cursed 
wild  goose  chase  of  yours,"  petulantly  replied  the  surly 
minion. 

"What!  not  even  get  a  sight  of  the  game,  after  so  much 
beating  about  the  blish?" 

"Yes,  twice;  and  failed  both  times,  as  the  devil,  who  sent 
me  on  the  errand,  would  have  it,"  answered  Darrow,  with  an 
equivocal  glance  at  the  other. 

"Failed!  how?"  said  Sherwood,  without  appearing  to  notice 
the  half -intentional  sarcasm  of  Darrow. 

"Why,  the  first  time,  the  devilish  rifle  missed  fire,  for  a 
rarity — ^the  second,  its  owner  missed  his  aim,  and  had  to  take 
to  his  legs  to  save  his  bacon." 

"All  this  is  very  singular,  Mr.  Darrow,"  observed  Sher- 
wood, with  a  disappointed,  and  somewhat  incredulous  look. 

"Yes,  but  true  for  all  that.  Believe  it  or  not^  just  as  you 
please,  I  care  not  a  groat." 

"What  mean  you  now,  Darrow?" 

"Exactly  what  I  say;  and  I  am  beginning  to  mean  some- 
thing more  too.'^ 


206  THE    GREEN    MOUNTAIN    BOYS. 

"You  are  a  strange  fellow,  Darrow.  But  let  us  have  all 
your  meanings,  wants,  and  wishes,  in  a  lump.  I  am  in  no 
humor  for  riddles." 

"Nor  I  neither.  Well,  then,  though  the  fellow  escaped  my 
bullet  by  no  intended  fault  of  mine,  yet  I  am  not  sorry  I 
missed  him.  I  have  been  thinking  of  the  business  coming 
along,  and  for  all  your  talk  about  his  life  being  forfeited^  I 
can't  make  it  out  much  better  than  killing — not  to  use  a 
worse  word, — which  they  say  gives  a  fellow  ugly  dreams.  So 
I  have  made  up  my  mind  to  let  you  do  your  own  jobs  of  this 
sort,  in  future.    And  if  you  persist  in  urging  me  further — " 

"Killing!  who  asked  you  to  kill  him?"  interrupted  Sher- 
wood in  feigned  surprise. 

"Curse  you,  Jake,  you  know  well  enough  you  meant  that. 
But  I  am  still  willing  to  help  take  the  fellow,  and  hand  him 
over  to  the  Yorkers  to  punish,  or  lend  3^ou  a  hand  to  carry  any 
other  point,  if  you  will  do  the  clean  thing  by  me.  But  in  the 
first  place  you  must  tell  me  what  you  fear  from  this  fellow, 
and  why  you  are  so  specially  set  on  having  him  taken,  more 
than  Allen,  or  any  other  outlaw?" 

"That  is  more  than  I  intended  to  tell  any  one:  but  as  I 
suppose  you  will  better  serve  my  interests  by  understanding 
this,  you  shall  know  the  whole  business:  well,  after  I  had 
been  here  awhile,  I  noticed  that  the  girl,  when  the  Captain 
said  anything  in  praise  of  this  Howard,  as  he  supposed  his 
name  was,  never  joined  her  father  in  praises  of  the  fellow, 
though  she  never  had  any  ears  for  anything  else  while  the 
slightest  mention  was  made  of  him.  And  if  I  so  much  as 
asked  a  question  impljdng  a  doubt  about  the  fellow's  per- 
fection, she  would  show  resentment  as  plain  as  looks  could 
do  it.  JN'ow,  Darrow,  if  you  would  discover  whether  a  girl 
entertains  any  secret  liking  for  a  man,  just  introduce  his 
name  in  her  presence,  contriving  both  to  praise  and  censure 
him,  and  if  she  refuse  to  join  you  in  either,  but  is  all  attention 
when  you  praise,  and  grows  restless  when  you  censure  him, 
you  may  safely  set  it  down  that  love  is  secretly  lurking  about 
her  heart.  It  was  something  like  this  that  led  me  to  think 
that  this  Howard  had  made  an  impression,  which  I  little 
rehshed.  This  suspicion  caused  me  to  obtain  from  the  old 
Captain  a  minute  description  of  the  fellow,  and  having  before 
had  one  of  Warrington,  it  occurred  to  me  that  this  favorite 
might  be  no  other  than  the  outlaw,  himself.    And  being  de- 


THE    GREEN    MOUNTAIN    BOYS.  207 

termined  to  ascertain  whether  my  conjectures  were  correct, 
I  made  a  secret  journey  to  Bennington,  where  I  got  a  sight  at 
Warrington,  and  where,  by  professing  great  wrath  against  the 
Yorkers,  I  was  let  into  secrets  which  confirmed  me  in  my 
suspicions.  There,  also,  I  made  arrangements  for  being  ap- 
prised of  Warrington's  future  movements  with  one  Willough- 
by,  who  sent  the  word  which  enabled  me  to  ferret  out  him  and 
his  band  at  Lake  Dunmore.  All  this,  however,  I  kept  secret 
from  the  Hendees,  but  took  especial  pains  to  inspire  the  old 
man,  and  more  particularly  his  daughter,  with  a  horror  of 
the  character  of  Warrington.  And  now,  Darrow,  after  the  in- 
sufferable scoundrel  has  caused  me  to  be  tied  up  and  whipped 
like  a  dog,  and,  to  cap  the  climax,  has  found  his  way  into 
this  family,  and  attempted  to  beguile  from  me  my  bethrothed, 
can  you  ask  why  I  wish  to  see  him  brought  to  justice?" 

"Why,  you  seem  to  make  out  considerable  of  a  case  of  it, 
to  be  sure,"  replied  the  other  carelessly,  as  he  rolled  his 
tobacco  quid  in  his  lips.  "But,  ^betrothed,'  do  you  call  her? 
Why,  I  thought  you  cared  so  little  about  the  girl,  that  you 
was  quite  undetermined  whether  you  would  have  her  or  not?" 

"Well,  whatever  I  may  have  said  before,  I  am  not  unde- 
termined now — for  the  girl,  in  spite  of  men,  or  devils,  I  swear 
I  will  have!" 

"What  mighty  object  is  there,  Jake,  in  breaking  your  neck 
for  her?  Be  sure,  she  is  a  snug  piece  enough^  but  you  can 
catch  other  fish  as  fair,  and  those,  too,  who  will  bring  you 
hundreds  to  her  none." 

"I  have  plenty  of  objects  to  answer:  one  is  to  defeat  this 
hated  scoundrel, — another,  to  punish  her  for  presuming  to 
like  him.  I  don't  say  now  I  will  marry  her.  But  she  shall  be 
mine,  to  do  with  as  I  choose.  I  will  have  her,  and  keep  her  in 
a  spot  where  it  shall  be  mine,  not  hers,  to  decide  whose  wife 
she  shall  become.  That,  indeed,  was  mainly  my  motive  in 
drawing  her  into  an  engagement  in  the  first  place:  for  you 
know,  Darrow,  that  in  case  the  old  concerns  should  happen  to 
be  ripped  up,  a  matrimonial  plaster  would  cure  all.  And  so 
long  as  I  kept  things  in  this  posture,  I  should  have  the  remedy 
at  hand." 

"Yes,  but  what  chance  do  you  consider  there  is  of  ripping 
up  old  matters?"  asked  the  sergeant,  throwing  a  keen  in- 
quiring glance  at  the  other. 

"Why,  such  a  thing  is  possible,  you  know.    The  old  man, 

14 


208  '       THE    GREEN    MOUNTAIN    BOYS. 

my  father,  I  mean,  as  lie  grows  weak  and  cliildisli-,  may  re- 
pent, and  kick  over  his  own  kettle,  and,  of  course,  mine. 
Indeed,  I  have  great  fears  of  this:  for,  though  he  never  said 
anything  to  me  of  the  kind,  not  dreaming  that  I  ever  met 
with  yon  here,  or  discovered  by  any  other  means  the  secrets 
of  his  former  management,  yet  I  have  lately  observed  in  him 
a  sort  of  growing  uneasiness,  a  whining  melancholy  way, 
which,  with  his  great  anxiety  that  I  should  marry  this  girl, 
has  made  me  rather  Jealous,  that  his  firmness  is  giving  way  in 
this  quarter.  Besides  this,  there  are  other  dangers:  that  boy, 
who,  you  say  the  old  man  still  thinks,  was  done  for,  may  yet 
be  alive,  and  return  to  make  me  trouble." 

"Well,  if  he  should,  he  would  be  a  no  very  lousy  foe  for  you 
to  contend  with,  Jake, — ^that  is,  if  he  is  as  smart  for  a  man  as 
he  was  for  a  boy — I  tell  you,  he  was  a  bright  one  for  a  four- 
year-old.  I  liked  him,  and  never  had  the  least  notion  of 
harming  a  hair  of  his  head." 

"What  object  had  you,  then,  in  making  the  old  man  be- 
lieve as  you  did?" 

"Why,  I  mistrusted  that  wou.ld  please  the  old  man  best, 
and  FU  be  hanged  if  I  don't  believe  it  did,  Jake,  if  he  is  your 
father." 

"Well,  there  are  these  chances  against  me,  and  then — " 

"And  then  Bill  Darrow  may  leak,  you  was  going  to  say, 
was  you,  Jake?"  sneeringly  asked  the  minion. 

"0,  no!"  quickly  responded  the  consummate  dissembler 
with  a  gracious  smile,  and  a  surprised  air,  as  if  such  a  thought 
never  entered  his  head.  "No,  indeed.  I  should  as  soon  fear 
myself.  But  I  was  thinking,  and  about  to  say,  that  besides 
these  chances,  Warrington's  communication  with  the  girl  will 
13rove  dangerous  to  my  plans,  and  that  they  must  be  stopped." 

"Well,  how  are  you  going  to  do  it,  short  of  following  up  the 
plan  we  have  been  already  acting  on  to  so  little  purpose?" 

"Why,  I  have  already  taken  one  step  to-da}^,  by  informing 
Eendee,  that  his  friend  Howard  was  no  less  than  the  outlaw 
AVarrington  in  disguise.  This  was  touching  the  fire  to  his 
gunpowder  temper;  and  has  pretty  effectually  blown  the 
fellow  up  as  regards  any  open  communication  with  the  girl." 

"That  may  be,  but  it  has  also  blown  up  your  best  trap  for 
taking  him,  you  see,  don't  you?" 

"Perhaps  so,  but  I  dare  not  risk  his  visits  with  the  standing 
he  evidently  held  in  their  minds.    And  now,  having  broken 


THE    GREEN    MOUNTAIN    BOYS.  209 

off  all  open  intercourse  between  the  girl  and  the  andacious 
rascal^  we  must  go  to  work  to  sunder  those  ties^  which  may 
yet  secretly  remain." 

"Hum!  That,  I  should  think,  would  he  like  trying  to  cut 
off  sun-heams  with  a  jack-knife.  I  should  like  to  know  how 
the  old  boy  you  calculate  to  do  that?" 

"0,  easy  enough^  though  my  plan  is  not  quite  made  up.  I 
will  tell  you  in  the  morning.  But  will  you  assist  me  in  carry- 
ing it  out  ?" 

"Don^t  know  but  I  will.  But  supposing  I  do,  and  see  you 
fairly  through  the  whole  scrape,  what  do  you  finally  intend  to 
do  for  me?" 

"Anything  almost  that  you  may  ask,  Darrow.  You  will 
own  that  the  earnest  money  I  gave  you  the  other  day  was  a 
handsome  affair?" 

"Hum! — Yes,  decent." 

"Well,  from  the  late  news,  I  suppose  we  shall  have  war. 
Warrington  and  most  of  these  rascally  settlers  will  be  wdth  the 
rebels.  I,  from  several  motives,  shall  go  for  the  king.  And 
I  have  made  up  my  mind  to  get  a  Captain^s  commission,  and 
raise  a  company  to  act  in  this  quarter.  You  shall  be  my 
Lieutenant.  And  then  we  will  use  up  these  refractory  settlers 
in  a  way  they  little  dream  of.  But  hark!  The  old  woman  is 
rapping  for  us  to  come  to  supper.  I  will  mature  my  plans, 
and  open  them  to  you,  as  I  said,  in  the  morning." 


CHAPTER  IV. 


'I  something  fear  my  father's  wrath;  but  nothing 
(Always  reserv'd  my  holy  duty),  what 
His  rage  can  do  on  me.    You  must  begone: 
And  I  shall  here  abide  the  hourly  shot 
Of  angry  eyes;    not  comforted  to  live, 
But  that  there  is  this  jewel  in  the  world, 
That  I  may  see  again." 


The  development  made  by  Sherwood,  at    his  late    visit, 
seemed  to  produce  on  Captain  Hendee,  whose  mind  had  been 
previously  prejudiced  and  poisoned  for  the  purpose,  all  the 
u 


210  THE   GREEN   MOUNTAIN   BOYS. 

effect  which  the  former  could  have  desired.  The  Captain's 
feelings  of  pride  were  deeply  touched  at  the  thought  of  hav- 
ing entertained^  and  v/elcomed  in  his  family,  a  man  acting 
under  the  disguise  of  an  assumed  name,  and  consequently 
harhoring,  as  he  reasoned,  no  honorable  purposes.  And 
these  views  going  to  confirm  all  the  falsehoods  and  dark  in- 
sinuations, by  which  that  lago  in  malice  and  subtlety  had 
accompanied  his  disclosures  concerning  Warrington,  the 
mind  of  the  irritable  old  gentleman  had  been  wrought  up  to 
a  pitch  of  exasperation  and  bitterness,  which  he  pretended 
neither  to  disguise  nor  control,  and  which  he  failed  not  to 
vent  on  all  around  him,  but  more  particularly  upon  his  un- 
happy daughter.  To  her,  indeed,  his  whole  demeanor  became 
changed;  and  his  treatment  was  marked  by  a  distrustful  cold- 
ness, and  continued  austerity  of  manner,  which  she  had  never 
before,  for  so  long  a  time,  experienced  from  her  passionate, 
but  hitherto  quic-kly  relenting,  parent.  And  yet  she,  who  was 
happily  the  very  reverse  of  her  father  in  temper,  had  neither 
manifested,  nor  felt  the  least  wish  to  resent  the  unkindness; 
but  calm  and  amiable  in  disposition,  as  she  was  fearless  and 
spirited  in  action,  she  had.  borne  all  with  the  most  forgiving 
patience,  prudently  awaiting  the  subsiding  of  the  tempest  of 
his  passion,  before  she  should  attempt,  as  she  was  resolved  to 
do,  to  exculpate  Warrington,  and  gradually  bring  about  a 
change  in  his  views  and  feelings,  in  regard  to  the  connection 
with  Sherwood.  She  well  knew  that  he  was  now  laboring 
under  many  false  impressions,  which  she  felt  conscious  of 
her  ability  to  remove,  as  soon  as  he  should  become  sufficiently 
calm  to  listen  to  the  voice  of  reason.  Da}^  after  day,  there- 
fore, she  had  anxiously  watched  for  some  appearance  of  re- 
lenting, some  more  softened  mood,  which  should  afford  her  an 
opportunity  of  making  this  attempt  v\^ith  a  reasonable  hope  of 
success.  But  till  the  evening  on  which  Jones  called  at  the 
house,  she  had  observed  nothing  that  indicated  the  least  re- 
laxation in  her  father's  feelings.  And  being  then  interrupted 
by  the  woodsman's  call,  at  an  hour  which  usually  afforded  her 
the  only  opportunity  she  had  through  the  day  of  conversing 
with  her  parent  alone,  she  deferred  her  purpose  to  another 
day.  But  the  next  day  brought  along  with  it  events,  which 
so  engrossed  her  time  and  attention,  that  this  desired  object 
was  not  again  sought  to  be  obtained  till  circumstances  inter^ 


THB    GREEN-   MOUNTAIN    BOYS.  211 

vened  which  destro3^ed  every  motive  and  wish  she  could  en- 
tertain for  accomplishing  it. 

Snch  was  the  state  of  feelings,  and  such  the  relative  posi- 
tion in  which  the  father  and  daughter  stood  towards  each 
other  on  the  day  which  proved  so  triumphant  to  the  American 
arms  on  Lake  Champlain.  In  the  early  part  of  that  day  the 
attention  of  this  family,  as  well  as  that  of  all  the  inhabitants 
of  the  vicinity  of  the  lake,  was  aroused  by  heavy  and  repeated 
discharges  of  cannon,  in  the  direction  of  Ticonderoga.  Little 
dreaming  of  the  fact  that  the  cannonading,  which  was  filling 
the  whole  valley  of  the  lake  with  its  echoing  thunders,  v/as 
the  harbinger  of  a  victory  already  won,  the  whole  neighbor- 
hood was  instantly  in  commotion — some  riding  post  haste  into 
the  interior  to  carry  the  news,  or  rally  volunteers,  some  flpng 
from  house  to  house  to  interchange  the  expressions  of  their 
fears  and  sympathies,  and  the  greater  number,  rushing  down 
to  the  nearest  landing  on  the  lake  shore,  to  gain  the  first  tid- 
ings of  their  friends  engaged  in  the  deadly  conflict,  vfhicli 
they  supposed  was  at  that  moment  raging  round  the  walls 
of  the  hostile  fortress.  In  a  short  time  the  dooryard  of  Cap- 
tain Hendee^s  cottage  vv^as  filled  with  a  group  of  excited  boys 
and  anxious  females.  And  agonizing  were  the  sensations  of 
many  an  affectionate  wife  and  sister,  and  oft  and  fervent  their 
trembling  ejaculations  to  Heaven  for  the  preservation  of  hus- 
bands, brothers,  and  lovers,,  in  this  hour  of  danger.  And  not 
the  most  indifferent  among  those  thus  oppressed  with  painful 
solicitude,  for  the  event,  which  they  believed  involved  the  fate 
of  all  they  held  dear  on  earth,  was  Alma  Ilendee.  To  her, 
w^hose  lover  might  be  expected  to  be  among  the  foremost  of 
those  engaged  in  the  perilious  assault,  every  gun  that  came 
booming  over  the  waters  brought  w^ith  it  a  pang  for  her 
agitated  bos.om.  I^or  was  her  anxiety  the  less  painfully  felt, 
because  circumstances  compelled  her  to  endure  it  in  silence. 
The  firing  at  length  ceased,  and  all  awaited  in  trembling  soli- 
citude some  arrival,  which  should  bring  them  information 
of  the  result.  This,  however,  continued  for  several,  and  to 
most  of  them  long  and  tedious  hours,  to. rest  in  uncertainty. 
But  at  length  a  horseman,  covered  v»dth  dust,  and  lashing 
his  foaming  horse  to  speed,  came  furiously  galloping  down  the 
road  to  the  south.  All,  v/ith  beating  hearts  and  breathless 
expectation,  awaited  the  announcement  of  the  rapidly  ap- 
proaching messenger.    The  necit  moment,  as  he  neared  them^, 


212  THE   GREEN   MOUNTAIN   BOYS. 

lie  swung  his  hat  round  his  head  exclaiming,  ^^Victory!  vic- 
tory! hurra  for  the  Green  Mountain  Boys!  Ticonderoga  is 
taken,  and  not  a  man  killed!  hurra!  hurra !^^  and,  without 
scarcely  checking  the  speed  of  his  horse,  on  he  dashed,  to 
carry  to  others  the  joyful  tidings.  The  cracked  Yoice  of  the 
war-worn  and  veteran  Hendee  was  the  next  instant  mingling 
with  the  shrill  and  high-keyed  cry  of  the  hoys  around  him  in 
the  responsive  hurra  that  now  involuntarily  hurst  from  their 
lips.  "With  tears  of  joy  and  thankfulness  gushing  over  many 
a  fair  cheek,  the  females  hurried  on  such  hahiliments  as  they 
had  laid  aside,  and  the  compan}',  immediately  dispersing, 
hastened  to  their  respective  homes  with  the  gladdening  news, 
leaving  Captain  Hendee  and  his  daughter  again  by  themselves_j 
and  their  cottage  to  relapse  into  its  usual  quietness.  The  day, 
however,  was  not  destined  to  close  upon  them  without  the 
occurrence  of  other  events  of  stirring  interest.  Towards  sun- 
set, several  batteaux  filled  with  armed  men,  made  their  ap- 
pearance on  the  lake,  approaching  from  the  south,  and  as  they 
neared,  were  soon  discovered  to  he  hearing  down  upon  the 
fortress  of  Crown  Point. 

"Bring  me  out  my  old  spy  glass,  Alma!^'  cried  Captain 
Hendee,  hobbling  from  the  garden  where  he  had  been  to  work, 
towards  the  house,  and  turning  round  every  few  steps  to 
look  at  the  little  armament,  which  he  had  discovered  ap- 
proaching. ^'Here  comes  more  trouble  for  the  British — or 
else  that  fellow  fooled  us  with  his  news,  and  these  are  a  re- 
inforcement for  the  garrison.  Come,  step  quick,  girl,  I  can't 
make  them  out  with  certainty.^^ 

"Would  British  troops  be  likely  to  come  in  that  direction, 
father?"  said  Alma,  in  accents  tremulous  with  emotion,  as 
she  approached,  and  handed  the  required  instrument  to  the 
other. 

"Why,  no,  I  should  hardly  have  expected  it;  but  let  us 
see,"  replied  the  Captain,  adjusting  his  glass  and  placing  it  to 
his  eye.  "By  heavens,  the  girl  is  right!  Those  boats  contain 
anything  but  British  regulars.  No,  they  must  be  Green 
Mountain  Boys,  about  to  make  an  onset  on  the  fort.  See! 
how  stiffly  they  bear  down  towards  the  old  v»^alls!"  he  con- 
tinued with  animation.  "Gad!  they  are  bold  fellows,  to  say 
the  least,  to  be  sailing  directly  in  the  teeth  of  yonder  war- 
dogs!  But  here,  child,  your  eye  is  keener  than  mine; — take 
the  glass  and  watch  ttieir  movements." 


THE    GREEN    MOUNTAIN   BOYS.  213 

The  girl  took  the  glass,  and  bringing  the  boats  within  its 
field  of  vision,  looked  long  and  intently  without  speaking. 

"They  are  coming  to  a  halt  now,  are  they  not?''  asked  the 
Captain. 

^TTes,  they  have  nearly  ceased  rowing  now,"  replied  the 
maiden.  "Why,  how  plainly  I  can  see  even  their  features! 
K'ow  there  is  one,  who  has  mounted  a  bench,  and  appears  to 
be  giving  commands  to  the  rest,    l^ow  he  has  turned  his  face 

this  way,  as  if — as  if " 

"Why!  how  unsteady  the  girl's  hand  is!  nonsense!  child, 
you  need  not  be  frightened, — they  are  not  coming  near  us," 
half  pettishly,  half  encouragingly,  exclaimed  the  Captain, 
supposing  his  daughter's  very  visible  agitation  proceeded  froni 
an  apprehension  that  the  commander  was  about  to  order  the 
boats  to  cross  over  the  lake  towards  the  house. 

"I  am  not  afraid,  father,  only — but  see!  their  boats  are 
turning  to  the  shore.  They  appear  now  to  be  putting  into  a 
small  cove." 

"There  is  where  they  are  cunning,"  observed  the  other. 
"They  don't  think  it  altogether  safe  to  approach  much  nearer 
in  the  range  of  those  murderous  long  guns.  If  I  had  been 
there  in  command  of  the  fort,  I  think  they  would  have  seen 
trouble  some  time  ago.  Thank  God,  however,  the  stupid 
fools  within  there  have  lost  their  best  chance!  But  what  are 
they  doing  now?" 

"They  have  landed,  nearly  all  landed  now,  and  seem  to 
be  forming  on  th&  bank." 

"Good!  now.  Alma,  you  will  have  a  chance  to  see  a  little 
of  your  father's  old  trade — that  is,  if  the  garrison  have  sense 
and  courage  enough  to  make  use  of  the  advantages  they 
possess  for  repelling  their  assailants.  Are  they  moving  for- 
ward yet  for  the  fort?" 

"No,  the -commander  appears  to  be  addressing  two  men 
apart  from  the  rest,  one  of  whom  seems  to  be  unrolling  some- 
thing white.  Ah!  I  see,  now;  it  is  a  white  flag.  The  two 
now  advance  along  the  path  leading  to  the  fort,  while  the  rest 
appear  to  stand  in  a  waiting  attitude,  anxiously  watching 
the  motions  of  their  two  companions  as  they  approach  the 
gate." 

"It  is  a  summons  from  the  commander,  girl — a  summons 
for  the  surrender  of  the  fort.  Now  you  will  see  whether 
they  will  obey  it,  and  yield  without  a  blow  the  prize  that  cost 


214  THE   GREEN   MOUNTAIN   BOYS. 

the  king  so  mueh  toil  and  blood  in  the  winning,  as  my  sad  ex- 
l^erience  can  well  attest.  Many  a  dark  and  fearful  night, 
Alma,  have  I  ranged  these  woods,  while  the  savage  foe  were 
lurking  around  us  in  every  direction.  Old  Major  Put,  as  we 
used  to  call  that  dare-devil,  and  myself  once '^ 

"There!  there!  father,^^  interrupted  the  other,  "the  mes- 
sengers have  now  approached  near  to  the  walls.  A  man  ap- 
pears on  the  top.  They  are  conferring  together.  The  mes- 
sengers point  to  their  companions.  The  man  on  the  walls 
seems  to  hesitate.  They  now  seem  to  direct  his  attention 
to  som-ething  down  the  lake.  Look,  father,  and  see  if  any- 
thing is  to  be  seen  coming  in  that  direction.^' 

"Now  the  Lord  be  with  the  assailants  for  a  sudden  rush, 
or  their  game  is  up  V^  exclaimed  the  Captain,  as,  in  compliance 
with  his  daughter's  request,  he  turned  and  threw  an  inquir- 
ing look  along  the  lake  towards  the  north.  "Two  boats  filled 
with  armed  men  are  coming  uj)  the  lake  rowing  for  life — 
British,  no  doubtj  hastening  to  succor  the  garrison." 

"No,  father,  no!''  joyfully  exclaimed  the  girl  as  with  trem- 
bling haste  she  turned  the  glass  to  the  armament  in  ques- 
tion. "You  are  again  mistaken.  These,  too,  are  Green  Moun- 
tain Boys,  coming  on  to  join  their  companions." 

"Green  Mountain  Boys!  from  that  quarter?  where  should 
they  come  from?" 

"From  the  Winooski  river,  father.  Captain  Baker  has  been 
on  there,  and" — eagerly  replied  the  other,  but  stopping  short 
and  blushing,  as  it  occurred  to  her  that  the  remark  would  lead 
to  the  discovery  of  the  source  of  her  information. 

"Eeally,  girl!  one  would  suppose  you  had  been  to  the  coun- 
cil of  war,  where  this  campaign  was  planned/'  said  the  Cap- 
tain, with  an  air  of  surprise;  but  being,  too  much  occupied 
with  present  objects  to  trace  the  association,  he,  to  the  great 
relief  of  his  confused  daughter,  reverted  to  the  scene  before 
him,  and  said,  "You  may  be  right  after  all, — if  so,  victory 
is  certain.  But  turn  now  to  the  fort  and  see  what  is  going 
on  there." 

"I  will — I  am,  father,"  replied  the  flustered  girl.  "Ah!  I 
have  a  view  again:  now  the  conference  between  the  command- 
er, or  man  on  the  walls,  and  the  two  messengers,  seems  to  be 
broken  off.  The  latter  are  departing.  But  now  the  man 
seems  to  be  calling  them  back.  They  turn  to  him  again  and 
hold  parley.     Now  the  messengers  turn  quickly  round,  and 


THE    GREEN    MOUNTAIN    BOYS.  215 

wave  tlieir  flag  to  their  companions,  who  seem  suddenly  to  be 
put  in  motion.  And,  see!  see!  their  whole  body  is  rushing 
towards  the  fort.  How  their  guns  glimmer  through  the  trees 
as  they  pour  along  the  path!  How  their  commander's  sword 
flashes  in  the  sun,  as  half  turning  he  whirls  it  about  his  head 
to  motion  them  on!  There!  there!  father,  they  mount  the 
swell! — they  approach  the  walls — the  gate  is  thrown  open; 
and  now  they  disappear  within  the  works,  and  all  is  still." 

"And  all  without  a  single  gun  being  fired  in  defense  of  Old 
Frederick!  impossible !''  exclaimed  the  Captain,  with  mingled 
feelings  of  joy  for  the  success  of  his  countrymen,  and  shame 
for  the  garrison,  who  would  surrender,  without  resistance, 
a  fortress  which  years  of  his  life  had  been  spent  in  helping  to 
wrest  from  the  Frenchmen. 

"Here!  look,  look,  father!'^  again  exclaimed  the  excited 
girl.  "The  lion  flag  goes  down!  another  of  a  lighter  color  goes 
up!  Have  they  not  conquered,  father? — They  have!  They 
have!   and  oh!   how  thankful!'^ 

"Yes!  'tis  all  over!"  responded  the  Captain,  rubbing  his 
hands  in  ecstasy.  "Quick  work,  by  heavens!  Not  a  gun 
fired! — not  a  man  killed,  and  the  old  Lion  is  flat  on  his  back! 
The  command  of  the  whole  of  Lake  Champlain  is  ours! 
Huzza  for  liberty!"  he  shouted,  leaping  from  the  ground,  for- 
getful of  his  lameness  in  the  excitement  of  the  moment,  and 
throwing  his  hat  into  the  air.  "Huzza  for  the  Green  Moun- 
tain Boys!     They  deserve  a  hecatomb  for  their  victories!" 

At  this  instant  a^  dozen  columns  of  smoke  shot  out  fiercely 
from  the  walls  of  the  fortress,  and  the  deafening  peal  of  can- 
non, which  followed,  announced  to  the  shuddering  hills 
around  the  surrender  of  the  last  controlling  foot-hold  of 
British  power  on  the  waters  of  Lake  Champlain,  to  the 
prowess  and  patriotism  of  the  G-reen  Mountain  Boys, 

Alma  now- delivering  up  the  spy-glass  to  her  father,  has- 
tened into  the  house,  and  took  a  seat  in  her  window,  where, 
unobserved  by  any,  she  could  observe  what  further  move- 
ments might  transpire  at  the  scene  of  action,  and  at  the  same 
time  freely  indulge  in  her  emotions  of  joy  and  gratitude  for 
the  preservation  of  her  lover,  whom  she  had  distinctly  made 
out  to  be  the  leader  of  the  victorious  party. 

An  hour  or  two  after  the  surrender,  a  skiff,  containing  a 
single  individual,  put  off  from  the  shore  under  the  fort,  and  di- 
rected its  course  to  the  landing  below  the  cottage.    The  in- 


216  THE    GREEN    MOUNTAIN   BOYS. 

dividual,  on  reacliing  the  shore,  came  directly  towards  the 
house,  and  was  soon  ascertained  to  be  Neshobee  by  the  Ca^o- 
tain,  who,  still  remaining  in  his  garden,  had  been  watching 
the  coming  boat.  The  Indian  rather  sheepishly  approached 
his  master,  conscious,  perhaps,  that  as  far  as  regarded  the 
Captain,  he  had  played  the  truant  in  joining  the  expedition. 

^^Well,  Neshobee,^'  said  the  Captain,  as  the  other,  with 
averted  face,  came  carelessly  along,  "where  have  you  been  all 
this  time?" 

"Umph!  me  been  go  learn  fight  um." 

"I  thought  it  likely  enough  they  had  got  you  away  for  that, 
as  I  suspected  from  several  things  I  noticed  yesterday,  that 
this  business  was  afoot.  But  how  did  you  know  I  should  be 
willing  3^ou  should  join  in  these  doings?" 

"What  you  tell  big  Cappen — Colonel,  who  make  believe 
drunk  todder  night?" 

"Well,  well,  m}^  lad,  I  don't  mean  to  scold  you  much  for 
joining  in  so  good  a  work,  though  you  might  have  talked 
with  me  a  little  before  -you  went.  ■  But  have  you  been  with 
the  big  Captain,  who  is  no  other  than  Ethan  Allen,  Mr.  Sher- 
wood informed  me?" 

"Me  have." 

"Well,  he  was  commander  of  the  expedition,  I  suppose — 
what  did  he  and  his  men  do  there  at  Ticonderoga?" 

"They  take  um  red-coats, — pile  up  their  guns  for  no  let 
um  have  um  more, — fire  big  guns,  more  fift}^ — hoo!  bang!" 
replied  the  Indian  with  significant  gestures. 

"'And  was  it  the  big  Captain  who  came  on  with  the  men  to 
take  this  fort?" 

"Xo,  young  Cappen,  Major,  what  you  call  Misser  Howard." 

"Well,  you  may  go,  now,"  said  Hendee,  impatiently,  motion- 
ing the  other  to  go  on  to  the  house. 

"How  proud  I  should  now  be  of  that  same  Warrington, 
outlaw  though  he  be,  but  for  this  accursed  business!"  muttered 
the  Caj^tain  to  himself,  after  the  Indian  had  departed,  with 
a  tone  and  manner  in  v/hich  admiration  and  dislike,  kindness 
and  resentment,  regret  and  bitterness,  were  strangely  blended. 
Hang  me,  if  I  don't  almost  think  tlie  better  of  the  girl  for 
liking  him.  Though  if  Jake's  stories  be  true! — I  wonder  now 
if  the  fellow  did  not  lie  to  me? — would  to  God  things  had 
been  different!  But  they  are  not  different,  and  won't  be;  and 
hell  town!     what    am    I   talking    about?       It     shan't     go 


^rME    GREEN    MOUNTAIN    BOYS.  217 

— no,  no!  and  "by  the  powers  of  eurtli!  it  shan't  go,  an  inch 
further,  or  I  will  make  the  house  too  hot  for  her!" 

While  the  passionate  and  unhappy  father  was  thus  giving 
vent  to  his  conflicting  feelings,  the  Indian  entered  the  house, 
and  proceeded  to  the  apartment  of  the  daughter,  who  had  also 
noted  his  approach,  and  beckoned  him  from  the  window  to 
come  to  her  room. 

"IsTow  tell  me,  in  the  first  place,  ISTeshohee,"  said  she  eagerly, 
^'whether  Mr.  Sherwood  was  over  there  to  be  taken  prisoner 
with  the  rest?" 

"Me  no  see  him." 

^^ou  said  yesterday,  he  was  then  there." 

"Me  see  him,  as  me  say,  then, — no  there  to-day  when  we 
come — guess  him  run." 

"Very  likely,  but  Darrow  was  there,  of  course,  was  he  not?" 

"Him  no  there,  too." 

"How  unfortunate!"  exclaimed  the  maiden  with  an  air  of 
disappointment  and  regret.  "Not  even  one  of  them,  then,  is 
secured!  Well,  well.  Heaven  knows  best;  and  in  that  I  will 
still  put  my  trust.  But  what  have  you  there?"  she  added,  as 
her  quick  eye  caught  the  hand  of  the  other  fumbling  for 
something  in  his  pocket. 

"Cappen  send  um,"  quietly  answered  Neshobee,  pulling  out 
a  billet,  which  was  instantly  snatched  from  his  hands  by  the 
eager  girl. 

"0,  why  not  have  told  me  before!  But  you  may  go  now, 
ISTeshobee;"  and  with  a  quick,  impatient  waving  of  her  hand, 
she  motioned  him  away. 

With  a  beating  heart  and  glowing  cheek,  the  happy  girl 
read  and  re-read,  many  times,  the  precious  note;  when,  after 
pondering  anxiously  and  deeply,  awhile,  she  took  her  sheet 
and  wrote, — 

"Your  few  lines,  my  dear  sir,  have  been  received,  and  read, 
I  know  not  how  many  times  over,  and  with  an  interest  which 
T  dare  not  acknowledge.  Your  propositions,  too,  have  been 
all  candidly,  and  even  anxiously  weighed.  And  it  is  with 
many,  very  many  regrets,  my  more  than  friend,  that  I  am 
forced  to  the  conclusion  that,  at  present,  it  were  better,  that 
they  be  not  comxplied  with.  You  first  propose  to  come  here 
openly,  explain  to  my  father  the  reasons  which  compelled 
you  to  that  course,  which  he  pretends  so  much  to  censure, 


218  THE    GREEN   MOUNTAIN    BOYS. 

and  claim  the  privilege  of  addressing  me — all  tlie  explanations, 
wliicli  it  may  be  needful  to  make,  would,  I  am  satislied,  witli 
my  father's  present  feelings  and  impressions,  be  better  lis- 
tened to  from  me  than  yourself.  And  most  assuredly  they 
shall  be  made  to  him  as  soon  as  his  mood  shall  be  such  as 
shall  warrant  the  belief  that  they  will  be  received  without 
passion  or  prejudice.  And  before  you  take  the  step  you  pro- 
pose, I  could  wish  also  to  see  some  change  in  his  views  rel- 
ative to  the  match  he  has  marked  out  for  me.  And  changed, 
believe  me,  they  sooner  or  later  will  be.  Eeason  will  at 
length  resume  her  sway;  and,  to  say  nothing  of  your  char- 
acter, the  character  of  one  of  whom  I  would  not  willingly 
speak  my  opinion,  must  soon  be  better  known  to  him.  And 
he  will  see,  and  feel,  for  himself,  that  his  present  requirements 
are  neither  wise  nor  generous.  But  do  not,  for  my  sake,  for 
your  own  sake,  beloved  friend,  attempt  to  accomplish  all  this 
now,  under  circumstances  so  inauspicious:  for  I  feel  it  would 
be  useless;  and  not  only  so,  but  lead,  j)robably,  to  the  defeat 
of  the  objects,  and  consequently  the  happiness  of  us  both. 
JSTo,  Warrington,  be  patient,  trust  in  Heaven  to  expose  guilt, 
and  reward  innocence,  and  rely  on  the  constancy  of  her,  who 
is  resolved  to  bring  about  a  state  of  things  when  her  lover  can 
be  received  in  her  father's  house  with  the  kindness  and  re- 
spect to  which  he  is  entitled. 

"As  an  alternative,  in  case  I  disapprove  your  first  proposal, 
you  request  to  be  favored  with  secret,  or  stolen  interviews, — 
Warrington,  Charles  Warrington!  would  you  recommend 
such  a  course  to  a  beloved  sister?  With  your  delicacy  of  senti- 
ment, with  your  admiration  of  exalted  virtue,  I  know  3^ou 
would  not.  Why,  then,  ask  it  of  one  whom  you  propose  to 
make  more  than  a  sister?  Again,  dearest  friend,  I  must  say 
to  you,  no!  I  have  ever  disapproved  of  clandestine  meetings: 
— there  is  an  air  of  guilt  about  them — a  something  that  seems 
to  imply  a  consciousness  of  wrong,  which  innocence  and 
rectitude  of  purpose  should  never  stoop  thus  tacitly  to  ac- 
knowledge. And  the  same  views,  which  have  led  to  the  dis- 
approbation of  these,  have,  in  most  respects,  an  equal  applica- 
tion to  the  measure  that  you  hint  it  may  be  expedient  for  us, 
as  a  final  resort,  to  adopt, — a  private  elopement.  In  some 
countries,  and  in  some  states  of  society,  such  a  measure  may, 
perhaps,  be  sometimes  justifiable;  but  is  it  so  in  a  land  like 
ours,  where  force  is  rarely,  if  ever,  used  to  defeat  the  engage- 


THE    GREEN    MOUNTAIN    BOYS.  219 

ments  of  lovers  ?  While  armed  with  the  panoply  of  virtue  and 
reason,  and  possessed  of  the  moral  courage  which  these  should 
ever  impart,  few  females,  I  apprehend,  need  here  resort  to 
this  questionable  practice.  Ancl  were  I  to  he  wed  to  you  to- 
day, Mr.  "Warrington,  it  should  be  done  openly,  and,  if  per- 
mitted, in  the  presence  of  my  natural  protector.  But  if  the 
ceremony  were  forbidden,  I  would  then,  after  frankly  appris- 
ing Mm  of  my  intentions,  as  openly  depart  with  j^ou  to  a 
place  where  it  would  be  allowed.  And  if  force  were  employed 
to  restrain  me,  I  would  then  throw  myself  on  the  protection 
of  him  who  would  defend,  or  deserve  to  lose  me. 

"You  know  not  how  rejoiced  is  my  heart  to  hear  of  your 
personal  safety, — how  proud  to  learn  your  brilHant  successes, 
and  how  gratified  at  the  promotion  you  have  received.  You 
say  you  are  about  to  proceed  south,  to  make  enlistments  for 
an  expedition  into  Canada.  Go! — deserve  well  of  your  coun- 
try, be  true  and  constant,  and,  wliile  you  remain  what  I  now 
believe  you,  count  me  so,  and  be  assured,  that  all  the  reward 
that  this  poor  heart  and  hand  can  confer,  shall  be  eventually 
yours.  My  prayers  will  attend  you  amidst  the  perils  of  war. 
Apprise  me  often — as  often  as  possible,  of  your  situation. 
And,  notwithstanding  I  have  declined  your  present  proposals, 
0,  do  not  believe  me  now,  do  not  hereafter  think  of  me,  less 
devotedly  yours.  Alma." 

When  Alma  had  finished  her  letter,  she  sought  her  trusty 
messenger,  and  confided  it  to  his  charge,  with  instructions 
to  convey  it  to  Warrington  at  the  fort  that  night,  or  as  soon 
as  he  could  absent  himself  without  exciting  the  observation 
of  her  father;  after  which  she  again  returned  to  her  solitary 
apartment,  and  soon  sought  her  pillow,  to  escape  the  perplexi- 
ties of  the  present  in  the  bright  visions  of  the  future.  During 
the  next  day,  her  time  and  attention  were  more  than  usually 
occupied  by  calls  at  the  house,  from  those  passing  to  and  from 
the  fort.  And  it  was  not  till  nearly  night,  that  she  found 
an  opportunity  to  escape  from  the  company,  with  which,  in 
successive  parties,  the  cottage  had  been  thronged  through 
the  day.  But  being  relieved  at  length  from  these  hospitable 
duties,  and  wearied  with  bustle,  in  which  she  had  been  en- 
gaged, she  threw  a  light  kerchief  over  her  head,  and  wan- 
dered into  the  fields  to  indulge  in  those  solitary  musings  so 
grateful  to  separated  lovers.    The  golden  sun  was  just  sink- 


220  THE   GREEN   MOUNTAIN   BOYS. 

ing  beliind  the  western  hills.  The  earth  was  a  variegated  car- 
pet of  flowers  beneath  her  feet;  and  tempted  by  the  beauty 
of  the  evening,  she  continued  her  course  almost  unconsciously, 
down  the  little  vale  towards  the  woods;  and  before  she  was 
aware  how  far  she  had  wandered,  she  had  arrived  at  the  bor- 
der of  the  field,  and  was  standing  by  the  tree  beneath  which 
Warrington  had  first  breathed  to  her  the  word  "love."  After 
indulging  awhile  in  the  associations  which  this  sequestered 
spot  awakened  in  her  mind,  she  turned,  and  was  retracing  her 
steps  homeward,  when  she  was  startled  by  the  sharp  rattling 
voice  of  some  one  a  few  rods  below  her,  and  turning,  she  be- 
held Pete  Jones  making  his  way  up  the  slope  towards  her. 

"Hold  up  a  little  bit  there,  lady,  that  is,  if  you^re  a  mind 
to,"  he  said,  respectfully  approaching  and  holding  up  a  letter 
between  his  thumb  and  finger.  "There's  a  little  concern  of 
a  letter,  which  Captain  Selden  handed  me  to  give  you." 

"Indeed!  an  answer  from  Skenesboro'  so  soon?"  said  Alma, 
with  a  subsiding  blush,  which  was -raised  by  the  thought  first 
occurring  to  her  mind  that  the  message  came  from  another 
quarter. 

"AnsYi'er  to  the  letter  the  nigger  had, — d'ye  mean? — why, 
yes,  rather  spose  so.  Any  how,  I  believe  it  came  from  that 
little  hum-bird  of  a  girl  that  we  caught  at  that  small  scrape 
we  had  with  the  old  podunk  of  a  Scotchman  and  his  folks, 
at  the.  lower  Falls,  a  week  or  two  ago." 

"You  mean  Miss  Eeed,  probably — have  you  been  up  to 
Skenesboro',  since  you  were  here  ?" 

"0,  yes,  a  lot  of  us  went  up  there  yesterday,  after  things 
had  been  pretty  well  fixed  at  Old  Ti." 

"For  what  purpose,  if  I  may  ask,  sir?" 

"Why  only  just  to  let  the  Major  there  know,  that  the  Con- 
tinental Congress  had  kinder  taken  a  fancy  to  his  stone 
house.  At  all  events.  Captain  Selden  told  them  something 
of  that  sort,  as  we  made  them  all  prisoners  there." 

"'What!  the  ladies  and  all? — I  trust  they  will  have  no  rea- 
son to  complain " 

"Ah,  you  needn't  borry  no  trouble  there  mum,  I  guess. 
The  ladies  vron't  be  very  likely  to  cry  their  eyes  out,  at  falling 
into  the  hands  of  such  a  chap  as  Captain  Selden — now  you 
see  if  they  do.  For  instance,  mum,  by  way  of  a  similar,"  con- 
tinued Pete,  beginning  to  look  mischievous,  being  no  longer 
able  to  keep  down  his  ruhng  propensity  for  joking,  "for  in- 


l^HE    GREEN    MOUNTAIN    BOYS.  221 

stance^  suppose^  now^  that  Major  Warrington  slioiild  come 
over  here  with  men  enough — and  ^twonldn^t  take  over  a  thou- 
sand neither,  mayhap ^' 

"You  need  not  trouble  yourself  to  explain,  sir/'  interrupted 
Miss  Sendee,  rather  flurriedly.  "The  letter  will  inform  me 
of  all  particulars,  doubtless.  You  vrill  now  excuse  me,  as  I 
must  return.  But  perhaps  you  will  go  to  the  house  for  some 
refreshment,  or  to  remain  with  us  through  the  night?" 

"Yfhy  no, — thank'ee  mum,''  replied  the  other,  a  little 
abashed  at  the  dignity  which,  the  girl  had  assumed.  "No,  I 
must  be  off  to  my  traps:  I  am  a  sort  of  a  water-mail  to  carry 
orders  to-day.  Captain  Selden  sent  me  on  this  morning,  with 
dispatches  to  old  thunder-bolt.  Colonel  Allen,  you  know. 
Well,  the  Colonel,  he  sent  me  with  my  little  bird  of  a  canoe 
agoing  again,  like  a  foot-ball,  down  here  to  Crown  Point,  to 
notify  the  Major  to  come  up  to  a  council  there,  to-night, 
or  in  the  morning.  So  you  see  I  must,  put  on  with  my  errand, 
as  I  haven't  been  to  the  fort  yet.  You  may  just  tell  the  old 
Captain  at  the  house,  if  you're  a  mind  to,  that  my  ague,  since 
I  was  there  hasn't  been  very  desput,  considering." 

So  saying,  the  jolly  borderer  turned,  and  bounded  down  the 

slope  like  a  young  colt,  giving  vent  to  the  exuberance  of  his 

animal  spirits,  as  soon  as  he  was  fairly  out  of  the  restraining 

|-  presence  of  the  lady,  in  his  favorite  old  chorus,  "Trol,  lol,  lol 

de  larly!" 

Hastening  to  the,  house,  and  then  to  her  room.  Miss  Hen- 
dee  eagerly  tore  open  the  letter  just  received,  and  read  as  fol- 
lows: 

Be  astonished,  0,  ye  heavens!  and  Alma  Hendee,  be  you 
thunder-struck!  as  I  know  you  will  be,  when  you  learn,  that 
we  are — every -man  of  us, — the  Major  and  all,  prisoners  of  war! 
Yes,  I  am  a  second,  time  prisoner  to  Mr.  Selden!  What  means 
it.  Alma?  There  is  some  strange  fatality  about  it,  that  passes 
my  poor  comprehension.  0,  for  some  one  deeply  skilled  in 
scanning  the  future — some  one  gifted  with  the  second  sight, 
which  is  claimed  by  our  Highland  seers  in  Scotland,  to  divine 
'  to  me  the  potent  of  this  singular  happening!  How  very  sur- 
prised we  all  were  when  they  landed — a  body  of  armed  men 
— and  marched  up,  taking  possession  of  the  yard,  and  dis- 
arming our  soldiers. 

The  Major  was  in  the  house,  and  never  mistrusted,  I  really 


222  THE    GREEN   MOUNTAIN   BOYS. 

believe,  what  could  be  their  object,  till  they  had  seized  the 
sloop  and  batteaux,  and  by  their  rapid  movements  in  sur- 
rounding the  men,  put  it  out  of  his  power  to  make  any  re- 
sistance. All  this  was,  seemingly,  the  work  of  a  moment. 
And  before  we  had  recovered  from  the  first  shock  of  the  sur- 
prise, Mr.  Selden,  who  appeared  to  be  chief  in  command,  had 
entered  the  house,  and  with  drawn  sword,  stood  before  us. 
The  Major  then,  indeed,  began  to  show  some  symjotoms  of  un- 
easiness—more, however,  even  then,  I  thought,  at  the  pres- 
ence of  one,  whom  he  evidently  has  both  feared  and  hated, 
since  the  former  visit,  than  because  he  really  supposed  he  was 
in  earnest  about  capturing  the  establishment.  After  Mr.  Sel- 
den had  politely  saluted  us  ladies,  he  bowed  formally  to  the 
Major,  who  returned  the  compliment  only  by  a  vain  attempt 
to  get  his  organs  of  speech  in  motion. 

*^'Who? — what?— Hem!"  he  stammered,  stepping  restlessly 
about  the  room^  and  looking  daggers  at  the  other.  "Why, 
sir — I  should  like  to  know,  sir,— yes,  sir — let  me  tell  you, 
sir,  what  I  think  of  you,  sir" 

"0,  never  trouble  yourself.  Major,"  replied  Mr.  S.  with  a 
satirical  smile,  "it  might  take  you  a  longer  time  than  I  could 
possibly  spare  to  devote  to  so  unimportant  a  purpose." 

"Why,  sir!"  resumed  my  doughty  warrior  of  a  lady^s  parlor, 

— "d n  you,  sir!    do  you  mean  to  insult,  sir? — Fll  just 

let  you  know,  sir — you'll  just  please  to  walk  out  of  the  house, 
sir!" 

"0,  be  patient.  Major,"  rejoined  Selden,  with  the  most  pro- 
voking coolness.  "Let  me  explain  to  these  ladies  the  nature 
of  our  call,  lest  they  be  unnecessarily  alarmed." 

He  then  informed  us  of  the  outbreaking  of  the  war,  the 
capture  of  Ticonderoga — and  the  determination  of  the 
Americans  to  possess  themselves  of  this  post  also;  and  con- 
sequently the  necessity  of  our  removal  to  some  other  place, 
to  which  he  assured  us  of  a  safe  escort. 

"Now,  Major,"  said  he,  turning  to  the  other,  who  had  sev- 
eral times  broken  in  on  Mr.  S.,  "I  have  only  to  say  to  you, 
that  both  you  and  all  your  men  are  prisoners  of  war." 

Even  then  the  Major  could  scarcely  comprehend  what  had 
befallen  him;  for  he  again  began  to  bluster  and  threaten. 
But  Selden,  at  once  cutting  him  short,  ordered  him  away; 
when  they  both  left  the  house  together.  I  never  saw  creatures 
so  puzzled  and  confounded  as  were  Marge  and  Merry  Skene. 


THE    GREEN    MOUNTAIN    BOYS.  223 

Tliey  neither  knew  what  to  say  or  how  to  act.  As  for  my- 
self^ I  could  hardly  hold  in  till  the  gentlemen  had  left  the 
loom,  when  I  fairly  shed  tears  with  the  laughter,  which  I 
could  not  repress,  at  the  ludicrous  scene  I  had  witnessed. 
In  regard  to  the  valiant  Major,  he  will  not,  probably,  make 
much  more  fuss  about  the  aftair  to-day.  To-morrow  he  will 
be  considerably  moved  at  the  disaster;  and  by  the  next  day, 
he  will  have  so  collected  his  ideas  and  his  wrath,  that  he  will 
be  tremendously  mad. 

They  took  the  place  about  noon; — since  which  we  ladies 
have  held  our  council  of  war.  And  it  has  been  decided  that 
we  take  our  departure  to-morrow  morning  for  Albany,  where 
we  shall  at  present  remain,  with  a  connection  of  the  Skenes\ 
I  should  have  certainly  preferred,  for  myself,  to  go  and  reside 
with  you.  But  I  dare  not  name  it  to  them;  for  the  girls  are 
already  as  jealous  of  me  as  witches;  and  I  well  knew,  that 
should  I  make  such  a  proposition,  it  would  be  attributed 
to  a  secret  wish  to  be  where  I  could  see  more  of  Mr.  S.  And 
further,  I  am  not  quite  sure,  but  they  might  be  so  kind  as  to 
communicate  their  suspicions  to  father;  for  I  have  a  father, 
who  may  claim  a  voice  in  some  matters  as  well  as  you.  ^ow 
don't  draw  any  inferences  from  that  observation.  Alma;  be- 
cause, positively,  there  are  none  to  draw. 

Mr.  Selden  handed  me  your  letter,  brought  by  black  Jack, 
till  he  fell  into  the  hands  of  the  powers  that  be.  I  read  it 
with  much  interest, — the  more  so,  perhaps,  as  I  thought  of 
the  possibility  that  we  may  yet  have  cause  to  mingle  our 
sympathies. 

I  shall  remain  with  the  Skenes  till  father  returns — if  he 
does  return;  for  now  we  have  war,  I  am  rather  uncertain 
what  course  he  will  pursue.  Should  he  receive  a  commission 
that  suits  him,  he  may  engage  in  the  war.  This,  however, 
is  doubtful.  And  I  think  it  very  likely  he  will  remain  neutral, 
as  I  suspect  he  thinks  the  government  have  not  done  him 
justice.  At  all  events,  I  don't  believe  he  feels  very  bitter 
tov/ards  the  Americans;  but  if  he  does,  I  know  of  one  who 
don't. 

P.  S. — Mr.  Selden  is  to  escort  us  in  person  to  Albany;  and 
what  is  better,  the  Major  is  compelled  to  go  with  the  other 
prisoners  to  Ticonderoga.  His  face  is  most  unreasonably  long 
at  this  arrangement — I  think  he  vdll  be  crazy  by  to-morrow. 
Marge  is  secretly  rejoiced,  and  I  know  another  who  is  less  sad 

15 


224  THE    GREEN    MOUNTAIN    BOYS. 

abuut  it  than  she  might  be.  I  have  had  a  conversation  with 
Mr.  Selclen  alone^  wliich  has  shown  me  that  he  can  be  serious 
when  he  pleases.  But  I  have  no  time  left  me  to  state  partic- 
ulars.   In  my  next  I  will  be  more  explicit. 

Adieu,  adieu. 

Jessy. 


CHAPTER  V. 


"Y/ith  pleasures,  hopes,  affection  gone. 
The  wretch  may  bear,  and  yet  live  on. 
Like  things  within  the  cold  rock  found 
Alive,  when  all's  congeal'd  around." 


During  the  week  succeeding  the  stirring  and  important 
events^,  wliich  we  have  been  endeavoring  to  describe,  cir- 
cumstances of  both  a  public  and  private  nature,  conspired  to 
bring  Miss  Hendee  in  contact  with  her  neighbors  and  ac- 
quaintances, much  more  than  usual.  The  recent  chang<L  of 
masters  at  the  fort  having  led  to  a  new  and  frequent  inter- 
course with  the  inhabitants  of  this  section  of  the  country, 
many  of  both  sexes  had  called  at  the  cottage,  on  their  visits 
to  their  friends,  who  were  now  members  of  the  garrison.  Busi- 
ness connected  with  her  father's  household  concerns  had  also 
caused  her  to  make  several  calls,  during  the  period  above  men- 
tioned, at  the  houses  of  the  different  settlers  in  the  neighbor- 
hood. It  could  not  reasonably  be  supposed,  in  a  country 
settlement  where  people,  in  the  absence  of  other  employment 
of  their  leisure,  are  usually  so  curious  respecting  the  affairs 
of  their  neighbors,  and  where  every  kind  of  gossiping  always 
finds  so  ready  a  circulation,  that  the  visits  of  so  distinguished 
a  5^oung  gentleman  as  Warrington,  at  a  house  containing 
one  so  lovely  and  excellent  as  Alma  Hendee,  had  been  suffered 
to  transpire  without  being  generally  known,  and  commented 
on,  by  the  inhabitants  of  the  vicinity.  Such,  at  all  events, 
appeared  not  to  have  been  the  case  in  the  present  instance: 
for  Miss  Hendee  soon  discovered,  that  her  social  intercourse 
with  her  lover,  as  limited  as  it  had  recently  been,  w'as  well  un- 
derstood by  nearly  every  one  of  her  acquaintance  with  whom 


THE   GREEN    MOUNTAIN   BOYS.  225 

slie  now  happened  to  fall  in  comj)any.  And  many  were  the 
jokes  and  banterings  which  she  was  compelled  to  meet  on  the 
subject.  But  there  was  one  circnmstance  attending ,  them 
which  soon  strnck  her  as  pecnliar  and  uncommon  in  snch  kind 
of  rallyings;  and  this  was^  that,  instead  of  the  flattering  and 
gratefnl  approvals,  and  happy  predictions,  usually  uttered  on 
such  occasions,  they  were  now,  in  almost  every  instance,  ac- 
companied with  some  manifestations  of  regret  or  disapproba- 
tion, at  the  conjectured  intimacy — some  hesitation  of  manner, 
some  ominous  shaking  of  the  head  or  some  mysterious  hinting 
at  the  dangers  that  would  attend  the  connection,  which  none, 
at  the  same  time,  seemed  to  treat  as  one  that  would  terminate 
in  marriage.  At  first.  Alma  paid  but  little  attention  to  these 
intimations;  but  as  they  were  repeated,  they  began  to  oc- 
casion her  considerable  uneasiness.  And  when  she  found 
them  coming  from  all  quarters,  prudence  would  no  longer  per- 
mit her  to  pass  them  unheeded.  And  she  began  to  busy  her 
mind  in  trying  to  account  for  impressions,  which  she  sup- 
posed to  be  much  too  general  to  be  attributed  to  chance  opin- 
ions, or  personal  prejudices.  She  felt  satisfied  that  this  feel- 
ing could  not  proceed  from  any  wish  to  favor  Sherwood's  pre- 
tensions to  her  hand;  for  she  well  knew  he  was  no  favorite 
with  the  people  at  large.  Nor  could  she  perceive  how  it  could 
arise  from  any  ill  opinion  entertained  against  Warrington, 
who,  as  she  had  been  told,  was  held  in  the  highest  estimation 
by  the  settlers  generally,  both  for  the  signal  services  he  had 
publicly  rendered  them,  and  for  the  many  excellent  traits  of 
his  private  character.  Although  delicacy  of  feeling,  as  well 
as  prudence,  prevented  her  making  any  inquiries  of  those 
who  had  introduced  this  subject,  yet  the  amount  of  what  she 
had  gathered  from  them  seemed  to  indicate  the  existence  of 
some  insurmountable  barrier  to  the  union,  to  which  she  had 
recently  engaged  herself.  But  what  the  nature  of  this  ob- 
stacle could  be,  she  v/as  wholly  unable  to  conjecture. 

One  dSij,  after  making  one  of  her  excursions  among  the  set- 
tlers, she  had  returned  home  under  an  unusual  depression  of 
spirits,  occasioned  by  some  hints  and  vrarnings  of  a  m.ore 
pointed  nature  than  she  had  before  received,  together  with 
the  mortifying  reflection  that  her  views  and  feelings,  in  regard 
to  her  secretly  contemplated  union,  had  found  no  response 
in  the  minds  of  her  acquaintance.  Although  an  easy  credulity 
formed  no  part  of  the  discriminating  mind  of  Miss  Hen  dee, 

15 


226  THE    GREEN   MOUNTAIN   BOYS. 

yet  prudence  and  discretion  were  ever  among  the  leading 
traits  of  her  finely  balanced  character.  And  these  taught  her 
the  necessity  of  pausing  in  the  path  she  had  begun  to  tread, 
lest  it,  indeed,  should  be  found  to  be  beset  with  dangers, 
which  had  been  concealed  from  her  view.  She  recalled  to 
mind  some  insinuations  thrown  out  by  Sherwood  at  his  late 
visit,  by  which,  she  now,  on  reflection,  supposed  he  intended 
she  should  believe,  that  Warrington  was  not  only  a  hbertine, 
but  that  he  had,  by  a  clandestine  marriage,  entered  into  with 
some  of  his  victims  for  the  purpose  of  accomjDlishing  his  de- 
signs, put  it  out  of  his  own  power  to  contract  a  legal  marriage 
with  another.  Considering  those  insinuations  at  the  time 
entirely  false  and  malicious,  she  had  instantly  rejected  them 
from  her  mind,  without  paying  attention  enough  to  them  to 
examine  the  import  of  the  words  by  which  they  were  conveyed. 
But  now,  on  recurring  to  the  subject,  and  comparing  Slier- 
wood^s  words  with  the  dark  hints  she  had  since  received  from 
others,  she  could  not  but  be  startled  with  the  coincidence 
she  perceived  in  all  the  different  intimations  that  she  had 
heard.  And  the  more  she  reflected  on  the  various  remarks 
of  her  acquaintance,  all  seeming  to  tend  to  the  same  point, 
and  to  be  strangely  corroborative  of  each  other,  the  more  ap- 
prehensive she  became  of  the  existence  of  some  fact,  which 
would  not  only  level  with  the  dust  the  fair  fabric  of  prospect- 
ive happiness  she  had  lately  been  rearing,  but  would  place 
her  in  no  enviable  position  before  the  public,  when  the  step 
she  had  taken  should  become  known. 

While  Miss  Hendee  was  revolving  these  distracting  thoughts 
in  her  mind,  that  had  now  reached  that  state  of  uncertainty 
and  fluctuation  which  peculiarly  flts  it  for  the  reception  of 
questionable  statements,  her  reflections  were  interrupted  by 
the  entrance  of  a  man,  who  announced  himself  as  a  tinker, 
wishing  to  know  whether  there  were  any  wares  in  the  house 
which  required  the  aid  of  his  profession.  Being  answered 
in  the  affirmative,  he  pulled  off  his  pack,  and,  producing  his 
tools,  went  to  work  on  such  utensils  as  were  brought  him  for 
repairing.  He  was  a  man  of  a  loquacious  turn;  and  he  had 
scarcely  become  seated  at  his  work,  before  his  tongue  was 
going  as  rapidly  as  his  hammer.  Being  somewhat  amused  at 
the  remarks  she  heard  him  make  to  Ruth,  the  domestic  of 
whom  we  have  before  spoken.  Alma  soon  quitted,  the  adjoin- 
ing room,  where  she  had  seated  herself,  and,  entering  the 


I'HE   GREEN   MOUNTAIN   BOYS.  22f 

kitchen^  took  a  seat,  and  fell  into  conversation  with  the  talk- 
ative stranger,  occasionally  asldng  a  question  herself,  and 
good  naturedly  answering  the  various  questions  he  put  to  her, 
as  he  rapidly  roved  from  subject  to  subject,  in  so  disconnected 
a  manner,  that  it  would  have  puzzled  a  philosopher  to  have 
traced  the  association  of  the  man's  ideas. 

"Your  fort  over  here  has  lately  changed  masters,  I  learn," 
he  carelessly  observed,  after  he  had  started  and  dispatched 
every  other  topic  v/hich  he  apparently  could  think  of  as  con- 
nected with  the  affairs  of  the  neighborhood, — "I  wonder  who 
has  the  command  of  the  place  under  the  new  order  of  things?" 

"Major  Warrington,  I  believe,"  replied  Alma,  as  a  slight 
tinge  overspread  her  fair  cheek. 

"Major  Warrington,  Wiarrington,  did  you  say?"  said  the 
man  inquiringl}^,  repeating  the  name:  "not  Charles  War- 
rington of  Bennington  way?" 

"Yes,  the  same,  sir,"  replied  the  other. 

"Now  I  v/ant  to  know!  Do  tell  us  if  he  has  got  to  be 
Major?"  half  exclaimed,  and  half  inquired  the  seemingly  sur- 
prised tinker. 

"Is  he  a  former  acquaintance  of  yours,  sir?"  asked  Alma, 
turning  with  a  look  of  interest  to  the  man. 

"Lord,  yes!"  exclaimed  he,  with  great  apparent  simplicity. 
"Why  ma'm,  I  have  known  him  ever  since  he  was  knee  high 
to  a  toad — used  to  live  in  the  same  town  with  him  and  his 
father's  family,  in  old  Connecticut,  before  they  moved  to  the 
Grants,  and  have  seen  Charles  there  often  since,  on  his  visits 
back  among  his  relations — and — and  old  sweethearts,"  he  con- 
tinued, looking  up  roguishly  to  Alma,  as  if  to  see  how  the  last 
remark  took  with  her,  but  perceiving  the  uneasiness  of  her 
looks,  he  jocosely  added,  "Why,  I  s'pose  the  girls  know  that 
the  young  men  will  have  sweethearts,  don't  they?" 

"I  pretend  not  to  know  young  gentlemen's  business,  sir," 
replied  Alma,  in  a  voice  tremulous  with  suppressed  emotion. 

"Well,  well,  I  meant  no  offense,"  rejoined  the  tinker,  seem- 
ingly abashed  at  the  poor  reception  of  his  rally. 

"You  have  given  me  none,  sir,"  timidly  remarked  the  other. 
"But  I  think  you  said  you  had  kept  up  your  acquaintance 
vvdth  Mr.  Warrington,  and  you  may  know  whether — that  is 
you" — and  she  paused,  unable  from  the  fluttering  of  her  heart 
to  proceed  with  an  inquiry,  the  answer  to  which  would  prob- 
ably involve  her  every  hope  of  happiness  for  Kfe:  for  she  felt 


2^8  THE   GREEN   MOUNTAIN    BOYS. 

that  this  plain  and  apparently  honest  nian^  with  his  intimate 
knowledge  of  Warrington's  previous  life  and  character,  would 
be  able  to  furnish  her  testimony,  which  would  remove  her 
apprehensions,  or  confirm  them,  and  seal  her  doom  for  ever. 

'^May  know  what,  marm?"  asked  he,  after  waiting  patiently 
awhile  for  her  to  proceed. 

Alma  made  an  effort  to  go  on;  but  so  great  was  her  agita- 
tion that  she  could  not  utter  a  syllable,  and  she  remained 
silent. 

"Yes,  I  know  all  about  Charles  Warrington  as  well  as  any 
other  man,''  resumed  the  fellow,  after  he  saw  the  other  was 
not  likely  to  go  on  with  her  inquiry.  "A  considerable  of  a 
chap  he  is,  too.  In  fact  he  is  a  smart  fellow;  and  a  lively  one, 
too,  in  the  main.  I  never  knew  but  one  mean  trick  about  him 
in  my  life;  and  that  was  shuffling  off  and  deserting  that  poor 
simple  wife  of  his,  that  he  married  kinder  privately  there  in 
Connecticut,  a  year  or  two  ago." 

Had  a  winged  shaft  from  an  Indian's  bow,  at  that  instant 
been  driven  through  the  heart  of  Alma  Hendee,  the  convul- 
sive start,  the  sudden  contraction  of  the  muscles  of  her  face, 
and  the  fearful  death-gasp,  would  have  been  scarcely  more 
visible  than  was  the  effect  of  the  words  of  the  last  speaker. 
She  sat  a  moment  as  if  suddenly  paralyzed  in  all  her  senses. 
Presently  commenced  the  twitching,  nervous  motion  of  her 
fingers,  as  she  rapidly  handled  over  the  work  in  her  lap.  Then 
suddenly  rising,  she  went  to  the  window,  and  gasping  for 
breath,  stood  an  instant  vacantly  gazing  out  upon  the  land- 
scape, with  a  face  as  white  as  the  bloodless  marble.  She  then 
turned  quickly  away,  and,  with  hurried,  unsteady  steps, 
rushed  out  of  the  room.  Eeaching  her  own  apartment,  she 
again  stopped  short,  and  remained  several  moments  mute  and 
motionless  as  a  statue,  while  the  woe-stricken  expression  of  her 
countenance  and  the  silent  workings  in  the  muscles  of  her 
blanched  and  beautiful  features,  as  she  stood,  like  a  tearless 
Niobe,  with  her  anguished  eye  upcast  to  heaven,  and  both 
hands  pressed  tightly  against  her  heart,  told  more  forcibly 
than  language  can  express,  the  mental  agony  with  which  she 
was  contending. 

After  Alma  left  the  room,  the  miserable  wretch,  who  had 
so  cruelly  inflicted  this  dreadful  blow  upon  her  feehngs,  hur- 
ried through  his  work,  received  his  stipulated  wages,  and 
departed.    JSTo  sooner  had  he  turned  his  back  than  the  faith- 


THE    GREEN    MOUNTAIN    BOYS.  229 

ful  Eiitli^  who  liad  noticed^  and  understood  all  that  had 
passed^  hastened  with  looks  of  visible  concern^  to  the  apart- 
ment of  her  idolized  young  mistress. 

"Alma!"  said  she,  tenderly  placing  her  hand  on  the  now 
burning  brow  of  the  suffering  girl,  who  had  flung  herself 
upon  her  bed,  where  she  was  lying,  with  one  hand  pressing 
her  closed  eyelids  and  the  other  her  side:  "Alma,  your  fore- 
head is  very  hot — shall  I  bathe  it?'^ 

"No,  no,  Euth,"  faintly  murmured  the  fair  sufferer,  "it 
is  no  attack  of  disease:  my  head,  I  know,  is  some  fevered,  and 
my  eyes  are  sore,  very  sore;  but  the  trouble  is  here!"  she 
added,  indicating  the  spot  by  lifting  and  replacing  her  hand 
upon  her  heart. 

"I  was  aware  of  your  feelings  in  somiC  measure.  Alma," 
replied  the  other  soothingly,  "and  being  like  yourself,  de- 
ceived in  the  character  of  the  man  of  your  secret  choice,  I 
confess,  I  did  not  disapprove  of  your  partiality.  But,  now. 
Alma,  should  you  not  be  thankfiil,  that  you  have  made  this 
discovery  in  season  to  retrace  your  steps,  and  escape  the  dan- 
ger?" 

"Yes,  and  I  am,  I  certainly  am;  but  0,  Euth,  Euth,  you 
little  knew  how  much  I  loved  him!  and  oh!  how  cruelly — 
cruelly  has  he  repaid  my  lavished  affection!" 

With  this  the  sealed  fountain  of  her  tears  suddenly  opened. 
x\nd  as  the  pearly  drops  flowed  thick  and  fast  over  her  lovely 
cheeks,  she  breathed  more  freely;  and  the  torture,  the  scorch- 
ing, tearless  agony,'  that  she  had  felt  withering  both  heart 
and  brain,  was  removed,  giving  place  to  the  mitigated  suffer- 
ing of  ordinary  sorrow,  in  which  she  long,  long  indulged, 
while  her  faithful  domestic,  in  character  of  nurse  and  friend, 
watched  over,  and  comforted  her. 

The  next  niorning,  when  Miss  Hendee  arose,  she  was  calm 
and  composed,  though  looking  extremely  pale.  Her  appear- 
ance very  plainly  told  that  the  struggle  she  had  passed 
through  had  been  a  fearful  one;  but  it  told,  also,  that  she  had 
not  struggled  in  vain  for  the  mastery  over  her  feelings. 
Though  her  heart  had  been  pierced  and  lacerated,  she  seemed 
to  have  succeeded  in  silencing  its  throbbings.  There  was  a 
decision  in  her  looks  and  movements,  that  indicated  the  stern 
and  unwavering  resolves  she  had  made.  And  in  pursuance 
of  the  course  she  had  marked  out  for  herself,  it  was  her  first 
object  to  dispatch  siicli  a  notice  to  Warrington  of  her  de- 


220  THE    GREEN    MOUNTAIN    BOYS. 

termination^  as  slioiild  effectually  deter  him  from  attempting 
any  renewal  of  the  intercourse.  Accordingly,  after  she  had 
suioerintended,  as  nsnal,  the  household  affairs  of  the  family 
for  the  morning,  she  retired,  and  penned  the  brief  note: — 

"Major  Warrington: — Onr  intimacy  is  forever  ended.  As 
no  explanations  need  be  given,  so  none  will  be  received.  I 
trust,  therefore,  that  no  further  communications  on  your 
part  will  be  attempted.  Alma  Hendee.^' 

Sealing  the  note,  she  summoned  ISTeshobee  to  her  room,  and 
with  the  same  desperate  sort  of  calmness  which  she  had  ex- 
hibited through  the  morning,  though  with  a  slight  tremor 
in  her  voice,  she  said  to  him: 

"Here,  i^eshobee,  take  this  to  Major  Warrington  without 
delay,  if  you  can  find  him  within  twenty  miles  of  this  place. 
But  I  understand 'that  there  was  a  vessel,  with  several  boats 
filled  with  troops,  arrived  from  the  south  last  night;  and  he 
probably  came  with  them,  as  he  has  been  absent  from  the 
fort,  I  am  told,  for  the  purpose  of  enlisting  more  men.  Go, 
give  it  him;  and  do  not  stay  an  instant  for  an  answer,  or  to 
give  him  a  chance  to  question  you." 

The  Indian,  who  perceived  both  in  her  words  and  manner, 
that  some  sudden  change  had  taken  place  in  the  connection, 
which  he  was  aware  existed  between  her  and  his  friend,  War- 
rington, threw  a  keen  inquiring  glance  upon  the  face  of  his 
mistress,  and  seemed  to  hesitate  and  linger,  as  if  for  an  ex- 
planation of  so  unexpected  an  errand.  But  receiving  only  an 
impatient  motion  of  her  hand  for  his.  immediate  departure, 
he  turned  away,  and  with  an  air  of  mingled  wonder  and  re- 
grjet,  left  the  house  in  silence,  and  proceeding  to  his  skiff  at 
the  landing,  rowed  directly  over  to  the  fort.  When  he  arrived 
there  he  found  all  in  bustle  and  commotion,  prej^aratory  to  an 
expedition  into  Canada.  x\llen,  Warrington,  and  Arnold  had 
arrived,  as  before  intimated,  the  evening  previous,  with  a 
schooner  and  a  number  of  batteaux,  filled  with  a  considerable 
body  of  troops,  collected  for  the  contemplated  expedition, 
all  of  whom  were  now  on  the  point  of  embarking, — Arnold 
in  the  schooner,  with  such  Massachusetts  troops  as  had  ar- 
rived since  the  capture  of  Ticonderoga,  and  were  now  prop- 
erly under  his  command,  and  Allen  and  Warrington,  with  the 
remainder  of  the  forces,  in  the  batteaux.    As  soon  as  the  In- 


THE    GREEN    MOUNTAIN    BOYS.  231 

clian  readied  the  shore  he  sought  out  Warrington^  and  put 
the  note  into  his  hand.  Eeceiving  it  as  one  who  might  be 
expecting  a  favor  of  tlie  Idnd^  the  latter  carefully  put  the 
supposed  prize  into  his  pockety  and  informing  the  messenger^ 
that  he  had  one  for  him  to  take  back  to  his  mistress  in  re- 
turn^ he  turned  to  finish  the  directions  he  was  at  the  mo- 
ment engaged  in  imparting  to  his  men.  When  he  had  com- 
l^leted  the  business  immediately  on  hand^  he  turned  to  look 
for  ISTeshobee,  that  he  might  take  him  into  the  fort  to  receive 
the  letter  he  intended  to  send  back  by  him.  But  after  search- 
ing for  him  in  vain  among  the  men,  he  cast  his  eye  on  to  the 
lake,  and  to  his  surprise  and  vexation,  he  beheld  the  native 
rapidly  pulling  for  the  opposite  shore,  and  already  out  of 
hailing  distance.  Still  supj)osing,  however,  that  the  messen- 
ger had  misunderstood  his  request,  the  impatient  lover  has- 
tened to  a  solitary  room  in  the  fort  for  the  purpose  of  reading 
the  precious  paper  alone,  and  adding  a  postscript  to  the  one 
he  had  written,  that  he  might  dispatch  it  by  a  special  mes- 
senger before  he  embarked.  As  soon  as  he  was  alone,  he 
eagerly  broke  the  seal  of  Alma's  brief  note,  and  read,  with 
the  most  unmingled  pain  and  astonishment,  its  unexpected 
contents.  Hastily  rising  from  the  seat  he  had  taken,  he  for 
many  minutes  rapidly  paced  the  room  in  silence,  while  the 
agitation  visibly  depicted  on  his  manly  countenance  plainly 
bespoke  the  depth  and  bitterness  of  his  emotion. 

"Yes,  noble  girl,"  he  at  length  mournfully  said,  "incapable 
of  intrigue  and  meanness  j^ourself,  you  have,  in  some  way, 
unsuspectingly  become  a  victim  to  the  snares  of  a  villain! 
It  is — it  must  be  so.  A  deception  has  been  practiced  ujaon 
you — a  gross  deception  could  alone  have  prompted  to  a  meas- 
ure so  sudden,  so  cruel,  so  inconsistent,  and  so  destructive,  as 
I  know  it  must  be  to  your  own  happiness.  Well,  well,  I  have 
no  leisure  now,  even  if  I  would,  to  enter  the  lists  with  this 
despicable  plotter  of  mischief,  who  has  thus  entered  our 
Eden,  and  turned  its  happiness  to  sorrow,  in  trying  to  ferret 
out  his  villainies,  or  compete  with  him  in  his  low  game  of  in- 
trigue and  deception.  I  must  leave  you,  too  credulous  girl, 
to  discover  for  yourself  the  arts  by  which  you  have  been  duped, 
and  the  injustice  you  have  done  m.e — till  then,  farewell — till 
then,  be  my  country  my  heart's  only  mistress." 

Before  another  hour  had  elapsed,  Warrington  had  em- 
barked with  his  troops,  and,  with  the  gallant  and  war-like 


232  THE    GREEN    MOUNTAIN    BOYS. 

array  with  whicli  he  was  borne  down  the  lake,  had  passed 
from  the  scene  of  his  love  and  disappointment  on  his  way  to 
fields  of  blood  and  glory. 

It  comes  not  within  the  scope  of  our  design  to  accompany 
our  Green  Mountain  Boys  through  the  eventful  campaign 
that  followed  their  present  embarkation,  or  to  attempt  to 
trace  the  varied  fortunes  of  their  gallant  leaders, — the  daring, 
talented,  and  chivalrous  Allen,  who,  Tn  his  heroic  attempt 
on  Montreal,  was  taken  prisoner  and  carried  to  England  in 
irons,  and  there  kept  through  a  long  and  doleful  captivity, 
wdiich  deprived  his  country  of  the  aid  of  one  of  her  most 
energetic  sons  during  the  most  trying  period  of  the  w^ar, — 
the  skillful,  cool,  and  intrepid  Warrington,  whose  conduct 
soon  won  for  him  the  admiration  of  his  country, — the  gay 
and  gifted  Selden,  whose  sword  and  pen  were  alike  success- 
fully wielded  in  the  cause, — and  the  jolly  and  fearless  Jones, 
who  became  known  as  the  most  sagacious  and  trusty  scout- 
leader  in  the  northern  arm}^  These,  and  the  brave,  resolute, 
and  patriotic  men  under  their  command,  who  soon,  by  their 
courage  and  success  in  battle,  and  their  fidelitv  to  the  cause 
of  freedom,  rendered  the  name  of  Grreen  Mountain  Boys  a 
terror  to  their  foes,  and  an  appellation  of  honor  among  their 
admiring  countr3anen,  we  must  now  leave  to  struggle  with 
their  enemies  abroad,  while  we  remain  on  the  spot  we  have 
chosen  as  the  scene  of  our  stor}^,  there  to  wait  their  return 
to  make  the  place  once  more  the  theater  of  glorious  conflict. 

From  this  time  for  a  period  of  about  two  years,  there  w^as  a 
pause  in  the  action  of  our  story.  Although  the  events  which 
formed  its  commencement  were  intimately  connected  with 
those  attending  its  catastrophe,  yet  nothing  occurred,  during 
that  interval,  particularly  to  vary  the  aspect  of  the  one,  or  to 
hasten  the  other.  And  the  relative  situation  of  all  the  dif- 
ferent individuals  of  our  "dramatis  personae,"  from  this  time 
separated  and  scattered  in  various  directions,  remained  nearly 
unaltered,  till  the  tide  of  war,  combined  with  other  circum- 
stances, brought  them  again  together  to  figure  on  the  scene 
of  action  where  we  have  thus  far  described  them.  We  pro- 
pose, therefore,  to  pass  lightly  over  this  interval,  and  with  a 
few  observations,  by  way  of  noticing  the  situation  and 
progress  of  affairs  in  the  TTendee  family  in  the  meanwhile,  we 
shall  proceed  at  once  to  the  closing  period  of  oiir  story. 


THE    GREEN    MOUNTAIN    BOYS.  233 

From  the  hour  of  her  supposed  discovery  of  the  duplicity 
and  base  conduct  of  Warrington^  life  was  but  a  joyless  blank  to 
Alma  Hendee.  Although  by  the  fortitude  and  firmness  of  her 
character^  aided  by  female  pride^  which  had  been  deeply 
wounded  by  the  mortifying  development,  she  had  succeeded 
in  her  determined  efforts  to  keep  from  sinking  under  the  cruel 
disappointment,  yet  she  could  not  but  feel,  that  the  young 
affections,  which  she  had  thus  lucklessly  suffered  to  entwine 
round  her  heart,  and  root  themselves  in  its  very  core,  were 
withered,  never  to  be  revived  to  their  original  freshness  at 
the  bidding  of  another.  In  the  unbounded  confidence  of  her 
youthful  love,  she  had  squandered  her  hearths  best  treasures 
on  one  from  whom  neither  pride  nor  principle  would  longer 
suffer  her  to  accept  a  return.  And  she  was  deeply  conscious, 
that  she  could  never  gather  them  again,  to  bestow  them 
on  a  more  worthy  object,  or  where  they  would  yield  her  the 
earthly  happiness  to  which  she  had  begun  to  look  so  fondly 
forward  in  her  anticipated  connection. 

It  is  an  interesting  and  beautiful  trait  in  the  character  of 
woman^s  affections,  that  she  never  truly  worships  but  at  one 
altar.  If  that  remains  to  her,  though  no  new  attraction  be 
added, — no  new  inducement  offered  to  ensure  the  continuance 
of  her  devotion, — she  asks  no  more,  but  worships  on,  and  on, 
more  deeply  and  fervently,  till  the  heart,  that  offers  the  hom- 
age, ceases  in  death  to  cling  to  all  earthly  objects.  But  if 
that  is  destroyed  or;  removed,  the  incense  of  her  heart  passes 
away  with  it.  She  ma}^  indeed,  sometimes  be  found  kneel- 
ing at  another  shrine,  and  offering  up  the  forms  of  devo- 
tion, but  the  life,  the  spirit  of  the  worship  is  forever  gone. 

After  the  rupture  between  Miss  Hendee  and  AYarrington, 
Sherwood  becam^e,  for  a  while,  unusually  constant  in  his  visits 
at  Captain  Hendee's,  and  quite  assiduous  in  his  attentions  to 
the  listless  girl,  to  whom  they  were  offered.  At  his  first  call, 
after  that  event,  he  soon,  and  with  a  malicious  satisfaction, 
discovered  that  the  arts  he  had  put  in  practice  had  been 
crowned  with  success.  This  he  not  only  read  in  her  pale 
face,  in  which  the  settled  air  of  gloom  and  disappointment 
were  visibly  depicted,  but  also,  in  her  altered,  and  more 
respecting  manner  towards  himself,  which,  without  any  change 
of  opinion  respecting  his  general  character,  she  very  natural- 
ly, though  unconsciously,  perhaps,  exhibited  toward  him,  as  to 
one  whom  she  now  exonerated  from  the  particular  charges 


^^4  THE    GREEN    MOUNTAIN    BOYS. 

to  which  she  believed  him  obnoxious.  Having  satisfied  him- 
self of  this  state  of  things,  he  at  first  cunningly  forebore  to 
renew  his  former  pretensions  to  her  hand.  In  a  short  time, 
however,  he  began  again  to  make  professions  of  attachment, 
and,  without  asking  of  her  any  other  than  the  tacit  acquies- 
cence she  had  formerly  yielded,  talked  of  their  engagement 
as  of  a  settled  business,  and  as  if  nothing  had  occurred  to 
alter  the  relation  formerly  existing  between  them.  These 
addresses  Alma  rather  suffered  than  received;  and  the  affair 
between  them  was,  in  this  manner,  allovred  by  her  to  fall  into 
much  the  same  train  in  which  it  was  moving  on  "Warrington's 
appearance.  And  yet  she  still  had  but  little  thought  of  unit- 
ing her  destinies  wdth  those  of  Sherwood;  but  continuing  to 
hope  that  something  would  eventually  occur  to  save  her  from 
the  dreadful  fate,  she  permitted  the  affair  to  glide  along  as 
she  had  formerly  done,  solely  out  of  regard  to  the  feelings  of 
her  father  and  the  interests  of  the  family.  And,  indeed,  nov/, 
more  than  ever,  did  it  seem  necessary,  that  the  family  should 
avoid  a  rupture  with  Sherwood,  as  they  were  becoming  more 
and  more  dependent  on  his  assistance.  With  the  breaking  out 
of  the  Eevolution,  the  half  pay  wdiich  Captain  Hendee  had 
before  regularly  received,  and  which  had  constituted  his  main 
dependence,  ceased  to  be  transmitted.  And  he  was  there- 
fore driven  to  avail  himself,  from  time  to  time,  of  the  offers 
of  Sherwood  to  loan  him  money  to  meet  his  exigencies.  In 
this  manner  Miss  Hendee  wore  away  about  two  years  of  her 
dull  and  joyless  existence,  finding  nothing  in  the  present  to 
console  or  cheer  her  desponding  mind,  and  seeing  nothing  but 
clouds  and  darkness  in  the  future;  when  an  incident  occurred 
that  threw  a  new  light  upon  her  dark  "and  cheerless  path,  and 
produced  a  revolution  in  her  whole  views  and  feelings,  as  sud- 
den and  complete,  as  the  event  which  caused  it  was  singular 
and  unexpected. 


THE  GREEN   MOUNTAIN   BOYS.  235 


CHAPTER    VI. 


"A  sudden  joy  lights  up  my  loneliness.' 


It  was  a  soft  and  balmy  evening,  in  that  loveliest  of  all 
months  of  the  year  in  onr  northern  clime,  delightful  June, 
when  two  ladies  were  seen  issuing  from  the  Hendee  cottage, 
to  v\rander  abroad,  to  enjoy  the  beanties  of  the  evening,  and 
hold  in  the  solitudes  of  the  fields,  that  confidential  communion 
on  the  subjects  of  mutual  concern,  which  is  ever  interesting  to 
friends,  who  have  just  met  after  a  long  separation.  One  was  in 
height  something  above  the  ordinary  standard  of  women,  but 
with  a  form  as  faultless  as  the  chiseled  marble.  Her  carriage 
and  general  demeanor,  though  easy  and  graceful,  were  yet  not 
of  that  light  and  joyous  kind,  which  generally  bespeaks  cor- 
responding lightness  of  heart,  but  were  marked,  rather,  by 
that  serious,  drooping  cast,  that  tells  of  secret  cares  and  sor- 
rows; while  an  air  of  deep  and  pensive  thoughtfulness  rested 
in  her  dark  blue  eyes,  and  overspread  her  somewhat  pale, 
though  exquisitely  fiiolded  features.  The  other  female  was  a 
trifle  smaller,  and  as  volatile  as  a  child  in  her  movements. 
The  very  reverse  of  her  companion,  she  seemed  to  be  the 
creature  of  joyous  impulses.  Though  both  possessed  far  more 
than  an  ordinary  share  of  personal  beauty,  yet  their  beauty 
was  of  an  entirely  different  order;  for  while  the  appearance  of 
the  former  was  calm,  intellectual  and  commanding,  that  of 
the  latter  was  sprite-like  and  playful,  partaking  largely  of  that 
certain  prettiness,  that  eccentric  will  o'  wisp  sore  of  witchery, 
which  men  generally  pursue  eagerly  rather  than  worship  pro- 
foundly. They  were  both  old  acquaintances  of  the  reader, 
and  we  will,  therefore,  allow  them  to  announce  themselves  by 
the  conversation  that  now  ensued  between  them. 

"Now  tell  me,  Alma,"  said  the  smaller  girl,  "for,  in  spite 
of  all  the  dogged  silence  you  have  shown  in  your  letters  on 
the  subject^  I  determined  I  would  know  the  first  time  I  saw 


236  THE    GREEN   MOUNTAIN   BOYS. 

yon — tell  me,  I  say,  what  was  the  true  reason  of  yonr  dismiss- 
ing Warrington." 

"There  are  some  things,  Jessy,"  replied  the  other,  "which 
involve  such  imputations  on  our  own  prudence  and  discern- 
ment, and  are,  of  themselves,  so  humiliating  to  our  feelings, 
that  we  can  hardly  bring  ourselves  even  in  thought  to  re- 
cur to  them, — much  less  to  reveal  them  to  others.  And  this 
is  the  main  reason  why  I  have  never  ap]3rised  you  of  the  fact 
you  seek  to  know." 

"Yes,  but  I  shall  not  let  you  off  on  such  a  reason,  you  may 
depend  upon  it.  Come,  come,  girl,  I  will  be  your  confessor, 
and  the  more  crossing  to  your  feelings  the  confession,  why  the 
more  it  will  be  for  your  good,  if  the  Catholic  priests  are  in  the 
right  of  it." 

"Ko,  Jessy,  let  us  forget  the  subject:  I  would  not  again  dis- 
turb my  feelings  by  recalling  to  mind  the  man  who  once  caused 
me  so  much  sorrow.  It  is  enough  to  say  that  I  ^YSLS  grossly  de- 
ceived in  his  character." 

"Deceived!  How  deceived? — now  I  tell  you.  Alma  Hen- 
dee,  I  will  know,  and,  as  I  am  to  live  with  you  till  father  re- 
turns from.  England,  I  will  thorn  you  night  and  day,  till  you 
tell  me." 

"'Well,  then,  Jessy,  if  you  must  know^,  the  cause  of  my  dis- 
carding him  was  the  best  of  all  causes;  because  he  could 
never  be  lav/fully  mine;  for,  wherever  his  heart  may  have 
been,  his  hand  belonged  to  another.  And  while  he  was 
vowing  his  heart  to  me,  he  was  the  husband  of  a  living  wife 
in  Connecticut.  What  say  you  to  a  deception  like  that, 
Jessy?" 

"Why,  monster! — if  so — but  how  know  you  that  fact. 
Alma?" 

"I  received  intimations  of  it  from  various  sources,  which  I 
disbelieved,  when  a  man  called  here  who  was  well  acquainted 
with  Warrington^s  whole  career,  and  he  confirmed  all  that  I 
had  heard." 

"Warrington — the  high-minded,  and  brave  Colonel  War- 
rington, guilty  of  baseness  like  that? — Impossible!  Are  you 
c[uite  sure  that  there  is  not  some  mistake,  or  some  intended 
deception,  about  this,  Alma?" 

"Yes,yes, — think  not  that,  with  my  unbounded  confidence 
in  the  man,  I  should  have  l^een  brought  to  believe  this  easily. 
And  Oh!  if  you  knew  what  the  discovery  cost  me!'' 


THE    GREEN    MOUNTAIN    BOYS.  237 

"But  did  you  apprise  him  of  this  discovery ?^^ 

"Ko!'^ 

"Why?" 

"Simply^  because^  as  I  was  fully  satisfied  of  the  fact,  all  at- 
tempted explanations  would  not  only  fail  to  mend  the  matter, 
but  make  it  worse,  by  continuing  a  correspondence  which 
would  be  ruinous  to  me,  and  disgraceful  to  us  both." 

"Alma  Hendee,  I  can  hardly  believe  this  strange  story.  I 
fear  you  have  been  deceived.  I  wish  I  had  known  it  before. 
Neither  Col.  Warrington,  nor  Captain  Selden,  have  the  least 
idea  that  such  were  your  reasons  for  the  sudden,  and,  to  them, 
unaccountable  step  you  took.  I  have  conversed  with  them  both 
on  the  subject;  and  they  both  believe,  I  imagine,  that  you  were 
either  coerced  by  your  father,  or  were  laboring  under  some 
misapprehension.  Mr.  Seldon,  I  know,  believes  this;  and  he 
told  me  on  our  way  here,  that  if  you  would  keep  yourself  from 
becoming  entangled  with  Sherwood,  the  affair  might  yet  be 
reconciled  between  you  and  the  Colonel,  who  yet  cherishes 
for  you  all  his  former  sentiments." 

"It  never  will  be  reconciled,  however,  Jessy." 

"Why,  you  have  not  seriously  determined  to  marry  Sher- 
wood have  you?" 

"I  can  hardly  bring  myself,  I  own,  to  think  seriously  of  such 
a  sacrifice,"  said  Alma  mournfully,  "I  certainly  never  should 
harbor  the  thought  a  moment,  if  I  had  now  any  other  object 
to  live  for,  than  to  render  my  infirm  and  embarrassed  father 
,as  happy  as  possible.  This  I  see  but  one  way  of  doing.  And 
as  my  own  hopes  of  happiness  are  gone,  should  it  not  now  be 
my  duty  to  attend  to  his  in  the  only  way  I  can  accomplish  it  ? 
At  best  it  is  but  a  dark  and  dreary  prospect  that  lies  before  me, 
Jessy.  And  let  us  turn  from  it  now  to  your  own,  which  has  at 
least  hope  to  brighten  it." 

"Yes,  hope,  faith,  and  resolution,  come  what  will,  except 
such  a  damper  as  you  received.  By  the  way,  Alma,  did  not 
you  think  that  your  father  was  a  good  deal  taken  with  Selden 
for  so  brief  an  acquaintance  as  his  short  stay  with  us  to-day 
afforded?" 

"I  did,  indeed,  and  with  great  pleasure,  notice  it.  And  well 
my  father  might  be  pleased  with  him;  for  I  know  no  gentleman 
whom  I — " 

"Take  care!   take  care!"  briskly  interrupted  the  vivacious 


238  THE    GREEN    MOUNTAIN    BOYS. 

Jessy,  "Be  cautious  how  far  you  proceed  with,  your  praises. 
Miss!" 

"I  will  be  moderate  rather  than  alarm  you,  then,"  replied 
Alma,  smiling. 

"Well,  see  that  you  are;  or  Fll  be  jealous  as  sure  as  you  live. 
Besides,  I  cion^t  care  a  fig  about  obtaining  your  praises  for  him. 
But  Captain  Hendee^s  good  opinion  of  him  is  a  point  gained 
with  me;  for  my  father,  you  know,  has  placed  me,  and  my 
destinies,  too,  for  aught  I  know,  in  the  Captain's  hands  for  the 
present.  I  wish  I  could  get  a  peep  at  that  letter  of  instruc- 
tions, as  I  suppose  it  was,  which  I  brought  from  my  father  to 
yours.  What  cautious  old  things  these  papas  are  about  us 
girls,  are  they  not  now?" 
,  "Your  father,  then,  suspects  your  attachment — does  he?" 

"Why,  that  is  w^hat  I  am  myself  puzzled  to  decide.  Selden 
contrived  right  cunningly  to  get  introduced  to  my  father, 
soon  after  the  old  gentleman  arrived  at  Albany,  where  the 
Green  Mountain  troops,  with  their  officers,  have  been  posted 
the  past  season,  you  know.  They  have  since  met  several  times, 
and  by  the  fact  of  my  being  entrusted  to  Selden's  care  in 
coming  on  here,  I  know  father  considers  him  a  man  of  honor 
at  least.  But  whether  he  has  ever  suspected  the  truth  about 
us,  I  have  been  wholly  unable  to  ascertain.  If  he  has,  and 
disapproves  it,  he  has  studied  out  some  sly,  indirect  way  of 
breaking  up  the  connection  without  recourse  to  open  opposi- 
tion, which,  I  have  often  heard  him  say,  made  ten  matches 
where  it  broke  one." 

"But  did  not  Major  Skene,  after  his  exchange  and  return, 
or  his  sisters,  inform  Colonel  Eeed  of  their  suspicion,  most 
probably?" 

"They  would  have  done  so,  perhaps,  had  they  continued  as 
jealous  as  at  first,  but  since  my  engagement  with  Selden  we 
have  both  acted  in  concert  to  blind  them,  and  I  think  they  are 
in  the  dark  themselves." 

"And  hovv  have  you  disposed  of  the  Major,  in  the  mean- 
while?'' 

"I  laughed  him  out  of  countenance — ^jeered  and  joked  him 
about  his  valor  at  Skenesboro'  before  the  officers,  ridiculed 
him  in  every  way  I  could  devise,  till  at  last  the  fellow  became 
so  sore  under  the  torment,  that  he  fairly  avoided  me,  as  if  I 
had  been  a  viper,  and  that  is  the  v;ay  I  advise  you  to  take  with 
your  eternal  hanger-on,  wlio,  like  Major,  was  never  man  enough 


THE    GREEN    MOUNTAIN    BOYS.  239 

to  cease  his  attentions  when  he  knew  they  were  not  agreeable. 
But  where  is  Sherwood  now?" 

^'We  don't  know.  He  has  been  absent  several  weeks.  He 
told  us  he  was  going  to  Albany.  You  heard  nothing  of  him 
there,  did  you?'' 

"No!  but  if  he  was  there,  he  would  hardly  show  himself  in 
public,  I  think.  Did  you  know  they  strongly  suspected  him  of 
being  a  tory?" 

"I  knew  not  that  he  was  suspected  by  others.  But  from  his 
standing  blooi  from  the  contest  when  uur  bleeding  country 
required  the  aid  of  every  friend,  from  the  character  of  his 
associates ;  and  among  the  rest  that  despicable  Darrow,  and 
more  especially  from  one  or  two  secret  journeys,  which  I 
feel  satisfied  he  has  lately  made  into  Canada,  I  have  for  some 
time  known  that  he  was  any  thing  but  an  American  patriot." 

By  this  time  our  fair  friends,  having  wandered  down  the 
slope  toAvards  the  lake,  had  reached  the  shore,  and  seated 
themselves  on  a  little  grassy  elevation  near  the  landing,  where 
they  were  about  to  resume  their  conversation,  when  a  skiff 
containing  three  men,  whose  approach  from  the  south  had 
been  screened  from  their  sight  by  intervening  bushes,  made 
its  appearance,  and  put  in  for  the  shore.  The  girls  instantl}^ 
arose,  and  were  hastily  retiring,  when  they  were  hailed  by  the 
leader  of  the  party,  after  he  had  risen  in  his  boat,  and  looked 
intently  a  moment  at  those  on  shore.  On  turning  round,  Al- 
ma at  once  recognized  him  to  be  the  tall  woodsman,  with 
whom  she  first  became  acquainted  as  the  messenger  of  War- 
rington. 

"H  you'll  agree  not  to  be  scart  much  at  such  a  beauty  as  I 
be,  gals,"  said  Pete,  leaping  ashore  and  striding  up  the  bank, 
"I  should  like  well  enough  to  have  one  of  you  stop  running 
away  long  enough  to  have  me  tell  you  what  one  of  you  wants, 
that  is  if  I  "haven't  forgot  the  face  that  used  to  belong  to 
her." 

Jones,  now  advancing  to  the  spot  from  which  the  girls,  with 
hesitating  steps,  were  slowly  retreating,  pulled  out  a  soiled 
and  crumpled  letter,  and  offered  it  to  Alma.  But  the  latter, 
supposing  it  to  be  from  Warrington,  shook  her  head,  and  de- 
clined receiving  it. 

"Well,  now!"  said  the  scout,  a  little  disconcerted  at  the  un- 
expected refusal:  "by  hoky!  if  this  ain't  the  first  time  I  ever 
knew  a  body  that  wouldn't  take  a  letter  that  belonged  to  'em ! 

16 


240  THE    GREEN    MOUNTxilN    BOYS. 

A^'ell,  I've  done  all  that  the  fellow,  who  asked  me  to  hring  it, 
could  expect  of  me,  I  consider/' 

"From  whom  did  you  receive  the  letter,  sir?"  asked  Jessy, 
w^ho  easily  apprehended  the  reasons  of  her  friend  for  declin- 
ing to  receive  it. 

'^Well,  now,  marm,"  replied  Jones,  scratching  his  head, 
"that  is  asking  a  notch  more  than  I  am  very  well  able  to  an- 
swer. I  partly  hinted  to  the  man  to  tell  me  his  name,  but  he 
kinder  screwed  round  in  his  talk  so  that  he  kept  clear  of  tell- 
ing me.  Howsomever,  it  was  an  honest  looking  fellow 
enough,  that  I  fell  in  with  at  Skenesboro',  where  we  stopped 
for  breakfast,  this  morning." 

"0,  it  is  not  from  any  in  the  army,  then,"  rejoined  Jessy, 
throwing  a  significant  look  at  her  companion,  intended  to 
convey  a  sly  joke  for  her  over  cautiousness. 

"Any  in  the  army?"  said  Jones,  repeating  the  words  of  the 
other,  as  he  began  to  assume  his  old  comic  twist  of  features, 
"no,  unless  you  might  call  him  a  kettle  drummer;  for  now  I 
think  on't  when  we  first  came  into  the  house  where  we  found 
him,  he  was  at  it  hammer  and  tongs  upon  an  old  brass  kettle, 
making  clatter  enough  to  crazy  a  small  nation." 

"I  beg  your  pardon,  Mr.  Jones,"  said  Alma,  courteously, 
"I  Avas  under  a  misapprehension  in  regard  to  the  source  of  this 
letter — I  will  receive  it  now,  sir,  if  you  please;  and  thank  you 
kindly  for  your  trouble  in  bringing  it,"  she  added,  extending 
her  hand  and  taking  the  proffered  paper. 

"Are  you  direct  from  Albany,  sir?"  asked  Miss  Eeed,  pre- 
paratory to  some  other  question,  apparentlj^ 

"We  started  from  there  about  twelve  last  night,  and  in  a 
bit  of  a  hurry,  too,"  replied  the  scout,  turning  and  looking 
upon  the  face  of  his  fair  interrogator,  whom  he  now  for  the 
first  time  seemed  to  recognize.  "Why,  now,  if  I  ain't  beat, 
to  find  that  queer  fighting  bird  again — beg  pardon,  marm — 
I  didn't  mean  it  for  offense;  for  I  don't  calculate  to  be  very 
sarcy  to  folks,  except  to  the  Britishers.  And  I  kinder  guess 
you  ain't  very  stiff  for  that  side  after  all,  or  you  wouldn't  al- 
low yourself  to  be  caught  by  the  Green  Mountain  Boys  so 
easy  and  often." 

It  was  Jessy's  turn  to  be  disconcerted  now,  and  blushing  to 
the  very  temples,  she  turned  confusedly  aA\'ay,  and  pretended 
to  be  looking  for  wild  strawberries  in  the  grass,  while  Alma, 
smilincf  to  see  the  discoiiifiture  of  her  friend  at  the  honest  but 


THE    GREEN    MOUNTAIN    BOYS.  241 

sly  liit  involved  in  the  remark  of  the  woodsman^  now  address- 
ing the  latter,  asked: 

"Has  any  late  intelligence  of  the  enemy's  movements  been 
received  at  headquarters,  that  has  caused  yon  to  to  be  dis- 
patched in  this  direction  so  hastily?" 

"I  rather  expect  there  has,  marm." 

"Any  threatened  invasion?  I  know  there  have  been  fears 
of  one,  from  Canada,  bnt  hearing  nothing  of  it  lately,  we  had 
begun  to  believe  it  a  false  rumor." 

After  looking  Alma  earnestly  in  the  face  an  instant,  Jones 
motioned  her  to  step  a  little  further  from  her  companion, 
when  in  a  low  tone  he  observed  to  her, 

"You  used  to  be  true  blue — I  wonder  if  you  are  now  ?" 

"If  you  mean  a  friend  to  your  cause,  who  can  be  trusted, 
you  may  count  me  as  one." 

."I  rather  thought  so — well,  we  fear  there  will  be  hot  work 
in  this  quarter  in  a  very  few  days  from  this.  A  British  de- 
serter, who  was  taken  up  over  on  Winooski  River,  and  sent 
on  by  Captain  Baker,  arrived  at  headquarters  yesterday,  and 
gave  us  the  information  that  General  Burgoyne  with  an  army 
of  ten  thousand  men  had  already  reached  St.  John's  on  his 
way  through  this  settlement  to  Albany,  if  he  can  get  there. 
Colonel  Warrington  and  his  regiment  of  Green  Mountain 
Boys  were  to  march  this  morning  to  reinforce  St.  Clair  at 
Ticonderoga.  And  General  Schuyler's  whole  army,  before 
this  are  on  the  move  for  Fort  Edward,  as  the  place  where  the 
grand  tussle  is  to  be  had,  if  the  enemy  are  not  stopped  before. 
I,  and  my  scouts  in  the  boat  there,  are  now  on  our  way  to  re- 
connoiter,  and  watch  the  progress  cd  the  Reglars  as  they  come 
on.  N'ow,  this  last  part  of  it  you  must  keep  dark  about  to  all 
where  there  is  the  least  chance  of  its  getting  into  the  wind. 
If  I  get  along  back  as  far  as  here,  I  will  try  to  call,  and  let 
you  and  the  folks  in  this  quarter  know  when  the  enemy  may 
be  expected,  that  you  may  be  all  out  of  the  way  before  they 
arrive.  But  I  must  be  off;  for  we  must  row  ten  good  miles 
further  to-night,  before  we  encamp.      Good  nighty,  marm." 

Having  given  this  exciting  piece  of  information,  imparted 
with  more  seriousness  and  directness  of  manner,  than  any 
thing  of  equal  length  he  had  uttered,  perhaps,  for  years, 
Jones  turned  on  his  heel,  bounded  forward  to  the  shore,  and 
leaped  into  the  boat,  which  the  next  instant  shot  by  the  land- 
ing and  disappeared.  ■  -^ 

Knowing  that  the  scout's  secret  would  be  as  safe  with  her 
companion  as  with  herself.  Alma  immediately  called  her,  and 

16 


242  THE    GREEN    MOUNTAIN    BOYS. 

repeated  the  startling  news  she  had  just  received.  And  the 
solicitude  and  trembling  apprehensions  which  filled  the  bosom 
of  each^  as  they  thought  of  their  respective  friends  in  connec- 
tion with  the  approaching  danger,  for  a  while  sv/allowed  up 
every  other  feeling.  Even  the  letter,  the  delivery  of  v>  hich  had 
occasioned  the  call  of  the  scouts,  was  forgotten,  till  the  girls 
had  retraced  their  steps  more  than  half  the  distance  to  the 
house.  It  being  then  recalled,  hov^^ever.  Miss  Hendee  seated 
herself  on  a  hillock,  opened  and  began  reading  it,  with  an  air 
of  listless  curiosity,  which  showed  how  little  she  expected  to 
be  interested  in  its  contents,  while  Jessy  knelt  before  her  on 
the  grass,  watching  the  varying  expressions,  from  simple  curi- 
osity to  eager  interest,  and  from  that  to  deep  emotion,  which 
successively  passed  over  the  countenance  of  the  other  as  she 
proceeded  in  the  perusal.  The  letter  was  without  signature, 
and  ran  thus: 

"Miss  Hendee,  I  guess,  will  remember,  how,  a  year  or  two 
ago,  a  man  came  to  your  house  and  mended  the  things;  and 
how  he  made  some  statements  about  Charles  Warrington,  the 
Colonel  that  now  is.  ^ow,  what  I  said  at  that  time  has  wor- 
ried my  feelings  a  great  deal  most  ever  since.  Though  I  then 
really  thought  what  I  said  was  justifiable,  even  if  it  was  not 
quite  true,  as  I  was  made  to  believe  it  to  be  for  your  good.  But 
I  soon  after  found  out  what  I  told  you  was  not  so,  for  I  didn't 
know  m^yself,  and  only  said  what  I  was  asked  to  say.  This 
was  the  story  of  it.  As  I  was  going  from  house  to  house,  work- 
ing at  my  trade  there  in  your  part  of  the  settlement,  I  fell  in 
with  a  plausible  sort  of  a  man, — I  don't  think  I  had  best  call 
him  by  name, — and  we  after  a  while  got  to  talking  about  War- 
rington, whom  I  had  seen  often  enough,  though  I  knew  noth- 
ing of  his  private  affairs.  Well,  he  in  a  smooth  kind  of  way, 
said  there  was  one  thing  that  hurt  his  feelings;  and  that  was 
that  Warrington  was  doing  the  wrong  thing  by  a  relative  of 
his,  a  very  likely  girl,  that  he  pretended  to  be  courting  for  the 
sake  of  getting  her  family  on  his  side  in  the  York  quarrel, 
when  to  his  certain  knowledge,  he  had  a  young  wife  that  he 
had  deserted  down  country.  He  said  it  was  a  great  pity  to 
have  the  girl  so  deceived,  and  he  would  give  two  gold  guineas  to 
any  one  who  would  break  up  the  courtship.  But  he  said  it  would 
do  no  kinder  good  for  her  relations  to  try;  and  they  were  very 
anxious  some  one  else  should  undertake  to  do  it.    He  then 


I^I-iE    GREEN    MOUNTAIN    BOYS.     '  243 

told  me  liis  plan  was^  that  lie  and  I^  if  I  would  agree  to  do  it, 
shonld  first  kinder  secretly  tell  folks  this  story  about  the  de- 
serted wife^  so  that  it  should  get  to  her,  and  make  her  begin 
to  believe  it;  and  then  I  should  go  there  and  pretend  to  come 
from  where  Warrington  used  to  live,  and  let  drop  some  how, 
before  the  girl,  that  I  was  knowing  myself  to  that  business 
about  his  being  married.  Well,  he  kinder  drew  me  into  his 
plan,  and  I  being  poor,  consented  for  the  money  to  do  as  I  did. 
But  I  soon  mistrusted  that  this  man  had  some  wrong  design, 
which  I  found  out  to  be  the  case,  and  I  feel  very  sorry,  and 
ask  joardon  for  what  happened;  and  shall  feel  very  bad  if  I 
done  any  mischief  by  it,  as  I  think  Colonel  Warrington  a  very 
likely  man.  I  think  I  shall  feel  easier  now  in  my  mind,  but  I 
guess,  considering,  I  shan't  sign  my  name,  though  I  am  not 
ashamed  of  it,  or  at  least  I  never  was  in  any  other  affair  since 
I  was  born. 

"Your  well  wisher  to  serve.'^ 

The  first  feeling  that  pervaded  the  bosom  of  Miss  Hendee, 
on  reading  this  humble  epistle,  the  truth  and  genuineness  of 
which  she  found  it  impossible  to  doubt,  was  that  of  un- 
mingled  indignation  at  the  base  and  detestable  conduct  of  the 
man  who  had  instigated  the  deception  that  had  been  prac- 
ticed upon  her  with  such  complete  success.  The  vv^hole  of  that 
transaction,  together  with  all  the  dark  hints  and  warnings 
she  had  previously  received  from  her  acquaintance,  now  stood 
explained  before  her.  She  found  no  difficulty  in  tracing  all 
to  the  same  source,  and  she  saw  at  once  the  motives  which 
had  actuated  the  subtle  author  of  this  piece  of  refined  villainy 
in  the  course  he  had  pursued.  Her  next  feeling  was  that  of 
deep  and  unfeigned  regret,  for  the  injustice  she  had  uninten- 
tionally done  one,  whom,  but  for  this  erroneous  belief,  she 
would  have  "held,  of  all  on  earth,  the  most  dear  and  honored. 
At  last  came  the  heart's  rich  gushings  of  returning  love.  And 
from  the  overpowering  force  of  these  mingled  emotions,  she 
sat  down  and  wept  like  a  child. 


244  THE    GREEN   MOUNTAIN   BOYS. 


CHAPTER  VII. 


"Anid  how  felt  he,  the  wretched  man 

Reclining  there — while  memory  ran 

O'er  many  a  year  of  guilt  and  strife. 

Flew  o'er  the  dark  flood  of  his  life, 

Nor  found  one  sunny  resting  place. 

Nor  brought  him  back  one  branch  of  grace.' 


In  the  environs  of  Albany^  at  the  period  of  which  we  are 
writing,  stood  an  ancient  looking  tenement,  originally  de- 
signed, as  its  general  appearance  indicated,  for  a  common  farm 
house;  though  the  grounds  around  it  seemed  lately  to  Imxe 
been  left  almost  wholly  uncultivated;  while  dilapidated  fences, 
and  an  unchecked  growth  of  rank  weeds  springing  up  every 
where  about  the  premises,  told  anything  but  of  good  husbandry 
in  the  occupant.  Indeed,  there  was  an  air  of  solitude  and  de- 
cay about  the  place,  which  might  reasonably  have  been  taken  by 
all  as  an  evidence  of  a  corresponding  decay  in  the  circum- 
stances of  the  owner  but  for  the  fact,  known  to  many,  that  he 
had  brought  large  sums  of  money,  which  he  must  have  in- 
creased, as  he  had  ever  lived  on  an  economical  scale,  and  hus- 
banded his  treasures  with  the  most  miserly  care, — ever  spec- 
ulating upon  the  necessities  of  others,  and  loaning  his  money 
at  exorbitant  usury.  Since  the  commencement  of  the  unset- 
tled times  of  the  Revolution,  however,  he  had  been  busily 
engaged  in  drawing  in  his  funds,  while  he  began  to  talk  of 
pretended  losses,  and  to  feign  the  appearance  of  approaching 
povert}^,  by  suffering  his  farm  to  run  to  waste,  as  if  through  in- 
ability to  bestow  upon  it  a  proper  cultivation.  This  was  at- 
tributed by  many  to  actual  impoverishment;  but  those  who 
knew  more  of  his  affairs,  set  it  down  at  once  to  his  unwilling- 
ness to  trust  out  his  property  in  such  fluctuating  times,  and  his 
fears  of  being  compelled  to  loan  or  otherwise  part  witli  it,  for 
maintaining  the  American  cause,  to  which,  it  was  suspected, 
he  was  not  over  friendly.  He  had  ever  been  a  man  of  few 
friends,  and  still  fewer  confidants.    And  for  the  last  year  or 


THE    GREEN    MOUNTAIN    BOYS.       '  245 

two^  he  had  almost  wholly  withdrawn  himself  from  society; 
while,  as  was  noticed  by  those  who  occasionally  saw  him,  his 
health  appeared  to  be  gradually  undermining,  and  his  counte- 
nance wore  an  air  of  deep  dejection,  arising,  it  was  surmised, 
as  he  had  no  visible  grounds  of  sorrow,  from  remorse  of  con- 
science, or  other  mental  inquietudes,  the  causes  of  which  he 
had  never  divulged. 

To  this  cheerless  spot  we  would  now  invite  the  reader  for 
the  purpose  of  introducing  one  to  whom  allusion  has  been 
several  times  made,  the  father  of  Jacob  Sherwood.  The  un- 
happy old  man  had  been  for  several  weeks  rapidly  failing,  and 
he  now  lay  stretched  on  the  bed  of  sickness,  Vv^ith  the  full  con- 
sciousness, that  the  end  of 'his  earthly  career  was  fast  ap- 
proaching; while  a  retrospect  of  his  life  began  to  fill  his 
mind  with  terror  and  alarm,  in  view  of  the  retribution  which 
his  guilt-stricken  conscience  told  him  was  at  hand.  Although, 
by  the  constant  exercise  of  that  peculiar  cunning  and  cau- 
tiousness, which  were  leading  traits  in  his  character,  he  had  al- 
ways contrived  to  steer  clear  of  the  penalties  of  the  law,  yet 
there  had  been  certain  secret  passages  in  his  life,  the  memory 
of  which  now  turned  his  dying  bed  into  a  couch  of  thorns, 
and  drove  him  to  think  of  making  some  atonement  for  the  in- 
juries he  had  inflicted  before  he  dare  go  to  his  final  account. 

With  this,  among  other  views,  he  had,  the  week  previous, 
sent  a  special  messenger  for  his  son,  and  he  was  now  anxious- 
ly looking  for  his  arrival.  But  the  lingering  days  passed  on, 
and  he  came  not,  till  the  wretched  invalid,  warned  by  his  fail- 
ing strength,  that  he  could  hold  out  but  a  few  days  longer, 
dared  no  more  delay  the  act  of  justice,  which  his  guilty  fears 
had  urged  him  to  perform,  to  those  Avho  had  been  the  victims 
of  secret  villainies.  But  let  us  now  enter  his  gloomy  abode, 
and  proceed  to  his  bedside.  He  had  been  lying  about  an  hour 
in  a  troubled  sleep,  from  which  he  had  several  times  sud- 
denly started  up,  with  a  wild,  apprehensive  glare,  and  a  few 
incoherent  mutterings,  that  gradually  died  away  on  his  work- 
ing lips,  as  he  relapsed  into  his  uneasy  slumbers.  He  now, 
however,  became  thoroughly  awakened,  and  turning  his  face 
to  the  nurse  in  attendance,  a  wrinkled  old  crone,  who,  with  an 
ignorant,  clownish  looking  boy^  made  up  the  rest  of  the  fami- 
ly at  the  present  time,  he  eagerly  inquired  if  his  son  had  ar- 
rived,   And  being  answered  in  the  negative,  he  sunk  b^ck  on 


246  THE    GREEN    MOUNTAIN    BOYS. 

his  pillow  with  a  look  of  blended  woe  and  disappointment^, 
which  told  the  utter  wretchedness  of  his  feelings. 

^^0,  when  will  he  come!  when  will  he  come!^^  at  length  mnt- 
tered  to  himself  the  hapless  old  man.  "I  shall  die  before  he 
arrives!  no^,  no,  I  must  not  die,  I  cannot  die,  till  I  see  him — 
till  he  promises.  But  if  he  should  not  come!  Or  if  he  come 
and  would  not  promise,  or  promising,  w^ould  not  perform, 
where  would  be  the  reparation?  I  fear — I  fear  him,  with  so 
much  interest  at  stake!  Oh!  why  have  I  delayed  this  so  long! 
Why  have  I  carried  this  dreadful  weight  till  now!  If  I  had 
but  strength  to  write  it! — perhaps  I  have — I  will  try — I  will! 
N'abby!"  he  continued,  calling  to  the  deaf  old  woman,  "I  say, 
Nabby!   bring  me  here  pen  and  paper.^^ 

"Eh?  0,  ay!'^  replied  the  crone,  bringing  the  required  im- 
23lements. 

"N"ow  bolster  me  up  on  the  bed,  and  lay  that  old  ledger 
open  on  the  bed-clothes  before  me.    There!   that  will  do." 

Having  been  a  ready  penman,  and  deriving  a  temporary 
strength  from  the  excitement  of  his  sudden  resolution,  the  in- 
valid succeeded  in  writing  out  a  brief  statement,  or  confession, 
of  the  misdeeds  which  laid  heaviest  on  his  troubled  conscience. 

"There!  there !^^  he  exclaimed  in  a  sort  of  unnatural  glee, 
"it  is  on  paper!  it  is  down — thank  God  it  is  dowm!  I  feel 
easier  now — relieved — some  of  the  poison  has  passed  from  my 
heart  to  the  paper;"  and  he  read  over,  and.  continued  looking 
some  time  uj)on  the  lines  with  a  wild,  exulting  satisfaction, 
muttering  at  intervals,  "yes,  thank  God,  it  is  down!" 

He  then,  having  again  called  the  nurse,  and  directed  her  to 
seal  the  paper  securely,  superscribed  it  to  Captain  James  Hen- 
dee,  giving  the  woman  strict  orders  to  give  it  to  his  son  when 
he  arrived,  or  to  some  other  person,  who  would  promise  to  de- 
liver it  to  the  person  to  whom  it  was  addressed.  After  this, 
he  fell  back  exhausted,  and  lay  some  time  in  silent  meditation. 

"Yes,  that  is  something,"  he  said,  at  length,  resuming  his 
soliloquy:  "but  will  it  bring  back  the  lost,  or  dead?  ISTo!  Will 
it  restore  the  property  I  took  from  them?  No,  not  a  shilling 
without  a  suit,  and  then  Jake  will  find  some  way  to  defeat  it — 
and  then  the  letter  may  be  lost — ^lie  may  mistrust  what  I  have 
written  and  destroy  it.  It  won't  do — I  must  make  a  will  and 
place  it  out  of  his  hands — I  must,  0,  I  must — and  I  will  do  it 
— I  will  do  it,  now.    Ezra!  Ezra!"  he  continued,  speaking  with 


THE    GREEN    MOUNTAIN    BOYS.  *  247 

nervous  rapidity,  "Nabby!  tell  Ezra  to  come  here  in  a  min- 
nte!" 

The  ill-clothed,  and  more  ill-favored  boy  soon  made  his  ap- 
pearance. 

^^Ezra,  yon  go  over  to  Esqnire  Vanderpool's,  and  tell  him  I 
want  he  should  come  here  as  quick  as  possible — run!   run!" 

The  man,  Avho  was  thus  summoned,  and  who  v/as  an  at- 
torney, whom  the  old  gentleman  had  sometimes  employed, 
and  consulted,  on  account  of  the  prudence  and  secrecy  with 
which  he  conducted  all  matters  submitted  to  his  charge,  in  a 
short  time  entered  the  apartment,  and  quietly  seated  himself 
by  the  bedside  of  the  sick  man.  The  old  nurse  was  then  or- 
dered to  leave  the  room. 

'^1  am  going  to  die.  Squire,"  said  the  old  man  feebly. 

"I  hope  not,^'  replied  the  attorney,  casting  a  scrutiniz- 
ing glance  at  the  pallid  face  of  the  other,  but  without  betray- 
ing the  least  emotion. 

"I  know  best,  and  have  thought  of  making  a  will — can  you 
draw  one  that  will  hold?'^ 

"None  of  my  making  have  ever  yet  failed.^' 

"So  I  suppose,  and  I  believe  you  honest,  and  to  have  a  mind 
of  your  own,  or  I  should  not  have  sent  for  you.  But  can  it  all 
be  kept  secret  till  the  will  is  proved  in  court?" 

"Who  is  to  be  executor?" 

"I  have  been  thinking  of  that.  So  much  money  is  a  great 
trust,  but  if  you  are  not  honest,  who  is?    I  must  have  you." 

"All  can  be  managed,  then." 

"Yes,  but  will  it  be  done?  will  you  promise?  I  have  rea- 
sons— you  know  Jacob — will  you  not  let  him  buy  you  up ?'' 

"ISTever!" 

"Write  me  a  will  then;  and  be  quick, — quick — ^bequeath- 
ing a  thousand  pounds  to  Captain  James  Sendee  of  the  New 
Hampshire  Grants,  and  all  he  now  owes  me — another  thou- 
sand to  his  daughter.     That  will  make  them  good  for  what 

I—' 

"That  is  right!   make  a  clean  breast  of  it,  Mr.  Sherwood," 

observed  the  attorney,  encouragingly. 

"I  will — God  forgive  me  for  taking  that  amount  from  the 
property  left  with  me  to  manage.  Put  it  down  in  the  will 
'^reparation.' " 

"T  will.    But  the  rest  of  the  property?" 

"All  to  my  son — write  on — be  quick/', 


248  THE    GREEN    MOUNTAIN   BOYS. 

The  attorney,  with  an  acquiescing  nod,  proceeded  diligently 
with  his  task,  while  the  restless  invalid  again  muttered  to  him- 
self: 

"It  will  he  an  inducement  for  Jake  to  marry  the  girl,  which 
I  fear  he  means  to  avoid.  But  he  probably  will  do  it  now,  and 
then  nothing  will  be  lost  by  this;  and  if  he  don't,  why,  he 
has  enough  without  it.  Yes,  this  will  do.  I  shall  feel  better — 
better.'' 

The  will  was  very  soon  completed,  witnesses  were  called,  all 
the  requisite  formalities  passed  through;  when,  after  receiv- 
ing from  the  testator  many  additional  injunctions,  the  attor- 
ney departed  with  the  important  instrument  in  his  pocket. 

As  soon  as  this  business,  for  which  the  sick  nian  had  sum- 
moned all  his  failing  energies,  was  accomplished,  he  again 
became  as  helpless  as  an  infant,  and  lay  several  hours  in  a 
state  of  exhaustion  and  stupor.  At  length  his  malady  began  to 
assume  a  different  and  more  threatening  aspect.  The  pains 
of  approaching  dissolution  set  in,  attended  with  mental  an- 
guish, even  more  fearful  in  appearance  than  his  bodily  agony; 
and  to  the  wretched  old  man  a  night  of  horrors  succeeded. 
While  his  limbs  Avere  writhing  with  pain,  and  he  seemed  to 
be  grappling  in  bodily  effort  with  the  king  of  terrors,  the  most 
fearful  images  appeared  to  rise  continually  before  his  dis- 
tracted mind,  to  complete  the  horrors  of  his  situation. 
At  one  time  he  seemed  to  be  contending  with  desperate  fierce- 
ness against  troops  of  fiends,  that  stood  palpably  before  him, 
reaching  out  their  long,  skinless  claws  to  drag  him  from  his 
bed,  while,  "keep  them  off!  0,  keep  them  off,"  would  burst  in 
the  accents  of  despair  from  his  lips.  At  another  time,  the  im- 
ages of  those  he  had  injured  appeared  to  rise  upon  his 
troubled  fancy,  and  stand  before  him,  giving,  even  by  their 
quiet  presence,  unspeakable  tortures  to  his  feelings. 

"Leave  me.  Brother  Hendee,  0,  leave  me!"  he  would  pite- 
ously  exclaim,  waving  his  hand  for  the  other,  whom  he  fancied 
to  be  standing  by  his  bedside,  to  depart.  "Away!  away!  I 
cannot  look  on  you.  You  forgive  me?  what  is  that  to  me,  so 
long  as  that  great  burning  eye  is  looking  down  so  fiercely 
upon  me?  0!  don't  smile  upon  me!  don't.  Brother  Hendee! 
It  stings — it  kills  me!  There!  that  is  right — kind.  He  is 
gone  now.  But  what  is  that  coming?  0!  what  is  that?"  he 
continued,  starting  up  with  a  look  replete  with  horror  and 
distress:  "see,  how  he  reaches  out  his  little  hands  as  they  car- 


THE   GREEN    MOUNTAIN    BOYS.  249 

ry  him  off  into  the  woods,  crying,  uncle,  save  me,  nncle,  from 
the  Indians!  It  is  a  lie!  I  say  I  am  not  your  uncle !  You  are 
an  imp! — a  fiend,  come  to  torment  me!  There!  I  told  you  so 
— I  knew  it — see!  see,  there!  he  is  sending  that  troop  of  devils 
to  drag  me  down  into  that  dreadful  black  gulf!  0!  God!  they 
have  seized  me!  I  won^t,  I  won^t  go!  help!  murder!  0!  help! 
help!"  and  with  the  expiring  efforts  of  his  delirious  energies, 
he  rose  up  in  his  bed,  and  throwing  his  arms  wildly  above  him, 
and  uttering  a  fearful  screech,  he  fell  down  on  his  face,  and 
the  next  moment  was  a  livid  corpse! 

Such  was  the  fearful  end  of  John  Sherwood,  who,  with  no 
penitence  that  could  be  acceptable  in  the  sight  of  Heaven, 
thus  thought  to  compound  with  his  conscience,  and  atone  for 
his  misdeeds  by  offering  up  a  portion  of  that  wealth  which 
he  had  made  the  only  idol  of  his  worship  through  life — a  life 
marked,  indeed,  with  many  acts  of  specious  kindness,  per- 
formed towards  those  he  had  wronged,  but  always  performed 
on  the  principle  we  have  mentioned,  or  to  veil  the  secret  in- 
juries he  had  inflicted,  from  the  eyes  of  his  victims,  and  blind 
the  public  to  his  true  character. 

On  the  second  day  after  the  event  just  described,  and  but 
a  few  hours  before  the  time  appointed  for  the  funeral  cere- 
monies, Jacob  Sherwood  rode  into  the  yard,  and  without  any 
previous  intimation  of  his  father's  death,  entered  the  house. 

"How  is  the  old  gentleman,  N'abby?"  he  asked,  approach- 
ing and  putting  his  mouth  close  to  the  ear  of  the  deaf  old  do- 
mestic. 

"Eh?  0, — why,  don't  ye  know?  Han't  they  told  you  how 
he  is  dead?" 

"l*«ro!   shocking! — Why,  Avhen  did  he  die?" 

"Tester  night — jest  fore  day.  Desput  sick,  the  old  gentle- 
man was  that  night.  And  he  was  in  a  terrible  taking  to  see 
you.  Mister  Jacob,  fore  he  died." 

"What  did  he  wish  to  see  me  for  in  particular,  do  you 
know?" 

"No — not  sartainly.  But  he  was  under  some  consarn  of 
mind,  I  reckon.  It  was  malagantly  to  hear  him  take  on,  and 
see  him  act.  0, 'twas  dreadful  times  with  us  that  night:  I,  and 
Ezra  sot  up.  I  hope  the  old  gentleman  never  did  any  thing 
that  was  wrong." 

"Ezra,  what  did  he  say?"  asked  Sherwood,  eagerly  turn- 
ing to  the  boy,  who  was  present. 


250  THE   GREEN   MOUNTAIN   BOYS. 

"0^  he  talked  clrefful  bad  and  scary  bout  somfing  carrying 
liim  off.    Fse  mortal  feared^  and  went  beliind  the  door.'' 

"K'abby — say  Nabby!"  said  the  former,  again  addressing 
the  old  woman,  "who  has  been  here  since  father  was  taken 
sick  besides  the  doctor?'^ 

"Doctor!  he  wonldnH  have  no  doctor — he  took  his  own 
physics." 

"Who,  then,  has  been  here?" 

"Why,  none  but  old  Mrs.  Chandler,  to  tell  me  about  fixing 
his  gruel  and  things,  except  the  folks  that  cam_e  to  lay  him 
out,  and  Squire  A^anderpool,  the  day  fore  he  died,  and  then 
the  next  morning,  to  carry  off  the  papers  and  chests." 

"Vanderpool!  papers  and  chests!  what  can  all  that  mean?" 
said  Sherwood,  in  an  undertone,  and  with  an  air  of  concern. 
"But,  say,  old  woman,  what  did  Squire  Vanderpool  and  father 
do  when  they  were  together?" 

"Don't  know  nothing  no  way  about  it;  cause  they  sent  me 
out — may  be  about  some  writing.  La!  now,  I  forgot  the  let- 
ter," added  the  woman,  jumping  up  and  bringing  the  letter 
the  deceased  had  entrusted  to  her  charge:  "there  lie  told  me 
to  make  you  promise  to  give  this  to  Captain  Hendce." 

"Certainly — I  promise,"  said  Sherwood,  seizing  the  letter 
and  putting  it  in  his  pocket. 

After  a  few  more  inquiries,  Sherwood  retired  to  another 
room,  when,  taking  out  the  letter  and  carefully  breaking  it 
open,  so  that  it  might  be  re-sealed,  if  he  saw  fit  to  suffer  it  to  go 
to  its  destination,  he  proceeded  to  read  it;  after  which  he  rose, 
took  out  a  pocket  pistol,  drew  the  charge,  went  to  the  fire 
place,  and  flashed  the  priming  against  the  letter,  which  he 
held  between  his  thumb  and  finger  till  it  was  entirely  con- 
sumed. 

"Well,"  said  he  to  himself,  as  he  replaced  his  pistol,  "that 
piece  of  evidence  is  at  rest,  I  think,  and  if  all  other  matters 
can  be  managed  as  easily,  all  will  be  well.  But  it  is  very  evi- 
dent that  the  old  man  has  been  making  a  will:  and  Vander- 
pool, who  must  be  executor,  I  imagine,  by  his  presuming  to 
carry  off  the  papers  and  money,  is  a  hard  customer  to  manage 
I  confess;  though  it  must  be  done  by  some  means  or  other, — 
that  is  if  the  old  man's  weakness  and  silly  fears  have  led  him 
to  make  any  serious  inroad  on  my  ])ro.spects.  And  who  knows 
how  far  he  may  have  gone — devil!  if  he  has  been  willing  away 
my  property!    But  that  he  could  not  do.    lie  could  only  dis- 


THE   GREEN   MOUNTAIN   BOYS.  251 

pose  of  his  own,  the  lesser  half  I  think  it  must  be.  Well,  that 
is  mine,  too;  and  I  won't  go  it.  So,  if  he  has  been  willing  it 
away,  curse  me,  if  I  don't  find  a  way  to  suppress  or  break  the 
will.  Let's  see, — Yanderpool  is  rather  poor.  That  is  lucky; 
for  a  cool  hundred  is  something  of  a  tempter.  But  if  that 
fails  then  there  are  the  deaf  old  haddock  of  a  woman  and  the 
doltish  boy,  ready  with  their  humbug  stories  to  svrear  the  old 
man  insane  at  the  time.  Good!  I'll  make  it  traverse  some 
how.  But  the  first  thing  is  to  see  Yanderpool;  and  I  may 
as  well  do  it  now.  No,  I  forgot, — the  time  of  the  funeral  is 
at  hand,  and  I  must  be  rigging  up,  and  putting  on  a  sorrow- 
ful face — sorrowful!  as  if  it  was  a  matter  of  special  grief  to 
come  into  possession  of  a  clear  ten  thousand!" 

Thus  soliloquizing,  and  settling  his  plans  for  repairing  the 
rent  which  he  feared  his  father  had  made  in  his  fortunes,  the 
heartless  heir  dressed  himself,  and  Joined  the  domestics  and 
others,  who  had  now  come  in  to  assist  in  making  arrange- 
ments for  the  approaching  obsequies.  These  being  made,  and 
the  hour  appointed  for  the  funeral,  now  arriving,  the  cere- 
monies were  performed  by  a  small  train  of  the  nearest  neigh- 
bors, including  his  executor,  and  one  or  two  other  individuals 
from  the  city,  who  had  sustained  some  connection  with  the  de- 
ceased in  business  transactions.  Though  the  demeanor  of  all 
present  was  marked  with  the  decency  and  sobriety  natural  on 
the  occasion,  yet  none  of  that  emotion,  which  the  ties  of  heart- 
felt friendship,  severed  by  death,  usually  produces  at  such 
times,  was  visible  among  the  company.  Not  a  sigh  was  heard, 
not  a  tear  was  seen  to  bedew  a  single  cheek,  as  they  followed 
the  old  man,  who  had  never  exhibited  any  feelings  in  common 
with  them,  unwept  and  unhonored,  to  his  long  home. 

That  evening,  and  as  early  as  he  thought  decency  would  per- 
mit, after  his  father's  remains  were  consigned  to  the  earth, 
Sherwood  repaired  to  Yanderpool's  office.  And,  after  what 
he  deemed  would  be  considered  some  suitable  observations 
upon  his  recent  bereavement,  he  carelessly  remarked: 

"My  father  made  a  will  in  his  last  sickness,  I  understand." 

"Well,  the  old  gentleman  undoubtedly,  had  property  to  dis- 
pose of,  I  think,"  replied  the  attorney,  evasively. 

"You  drew  it,  I  am  told,"  observed  the  other,  cautiously 
approaching  the  point  at  which  he  was  aiming. 

"Prafting  instruments  of  that  kind  is  part  of  my  trade,  you 


252  THE    GREEN   MOUNTAIN    BOYS. 

are  aware/^  remarked  Yanderpool,  still  evading  any  direct  an- 
swer to  the  question  implied  by  the  other's  observation. 

"You  will  not  deem  it  improper,  I  presume/'  said  Sher- 
wood, "for  me  to  inquire  what  are  the  provisions  of  the  in- 
strument, since  I  am  the  person  most  interested?'' 

"Why,  sir,"  coolly  remarked  Vanderpool,  "whether  you  are 
the  most  interested,  I  should  think  must  depend  entirely 
upon  the  will,  whose  provisions  you  seek  to  know.  And  as 
regards  the  propriety  of  your  making  inquiries  respecting  those 
provisions,  I  am  not  aware  of  any  impropriety  in  your  ask- 
ing, but  whether,  in  the  case  you  assume,  it  would  be  proper 
for  me  to  answer,  for  the  present,  would  depend  solely  on  the 
conditions  imposed  on  me,  and  the  instructions  I  have  re- 
ceived." 

"0,  certainly,  certainly,  Mr.  Yanderpool,"  rejoined  the  other 
obsequiously,  though  he  was  evidently  not  a  little  startled 
at  the  ominous  import  of  some  of  the  attorney's  remarks;  "but 
what  possible  motive  could  my  father  have  for  enjoining 
secrecy  in  such  a  case?" 

"Why,  that,  Mr.  Sherwood,  is  undoubtedly  a  question  that 
the  interrogator  is  no  less  competent  of  answering  than  the 
interrogatee,"  rephed  the  imperturbable  attorney. 

"Why,  surely,  Mr.  Yanderpool,"  said  the  baffled  heir  in  a 
tone  of  expostulation,  "you  do  not  think  I  wish  you  to  do  any 
thing  wrong,  I  trust.  But  if  the  will  be  a  just  one,  there  can 
be  no  good  reason  for  keeping  its  provisions  a  secret  the  short 
time  that  intervenes  before  it  must  be  openly  proved;  and 
on  the  other  hand,  if  it  be  an  unjust  one,  a  delay  can  be  of  no 
benefit  to  the  legatees  of  a  will  which  can  be  so  easily  broken." 

"Broken!  how?" 

"Why,  I  suppose  you  must  be  aware,  sir,  that  my  father  was 
not  in  his  right  mind  when  he  executed  this  pretended  will, 
as  can  be  proved  by  the  family." 

Being  a  little  nettled  at  the  imputation  involved  in  the  last 
remark,  that  he  had  assisted  in  the  making  of  a  will  when  he 
knew  the  testator  to  be  incompetent,  the  conscientious  attor- 
ney with  considerable  spirit  replied: 

"Whose  testimony,  think  you,  sir,  would  weigh  the  most  in 
such  case,  two  good,  honest,  intelligent  witnesses  (to  say  noth- 
ing of  myself),  who  were  present  and  heard  the  testator 
converse,  or  a  stupid  old  woman,  so  deaf  as  not  to  hear  one 


THE    GREEN    MOUNTAIN    BOYS.  253 

word  in  ten  of  an  ordinary  conversation,  and  a  more  stupid 
boy,  who  was  rarely  in  his  presence?'' 

"0,  I  am  no  lawyer,  sir/'  rejoined  Sherwood,  with  affected 
complaisance:  "that  must  be  left  to  gentlemen  of  your  pro- 
fession to  decide.  I  merely  repeated  what  w^as  told  me.  And 
the  only  motive  I  have  in  making  these  inquiries  is,  to  obtain 
such  knowledge  of  the  will  as  shall  enable  me  to  make  my  ar- 
rangements for  the  future;  since  I  am  compelled  to  return 
immediately  to  my  post  in  the  Grants.  And  now,"  he  con- 
tinued, cautiously  veering  round  on  another  tack,  "I  really 
don't  see  how  I  can  go  without  knowing  something  about  the 
disposition  of  this  property.  It  is  a  going  to  be  such  a  dis- 
advantage to  me!  Why,  I  would  not  begrudge  a  hundred 
pounds.  Indeed,  in  mj  peculiar  situation  at  this  time,  it 
might  make  more  than  that  difference  in  my  circumstances — " 

"Ah!  indeed?"  observed  Yanderpool,  beginning  to  suspect 
the  drift  of  the  other,  but  wishing  to  see  how  far  he  would 
venture  to  go,  if  encouraged  a  little. 

^'Yes,  that  is  really  the  case.  Squire,"  said  Sherwood,  think- 
ing he  had  now  hit  upon  a  right  course;  "and  if  there  are 
some  nice  rules  among  your  profession  to  prevent  your  showiug 
this  will  yourself  in  obedience  to  such  very  singular  instruc- 
tions, why,  that  can  be  easily  got  along  with.  The  will  can  be 
left,  for  instance,  on  yonder  shelf,  or  some  where,  so  that 
should  I  come  in  to-morrow  to  write  a  letter,  or  the  like,  it 
might  be  glanced  at,  and  still  no  blame  could  fall  on  you — even 
if  the  instrument  should  be  afterwards  missing.  All  would 
come  right  between  you  and  I,  Squire,  depend  upon  it.  Now, 
I  should  suppose,  that  one  live  client,  with  my  means,  and 
with  my  friendship,  would  be  worth  a  dozen  dead  ones, 
shouldn't  you.  Squire?" 

"Why,  that  might  depend,"  gravely  replied  the  attorney, 
willing  to  alarm  the  other  by  way  of  punishing  him  for  his 
insulting  proposals,  "that  would  depend,  I  should  think,  some- 
what on  the  question  wdiether  the  live  client  had  means 
enough  left  him  by  the  dead  one  to  make  good  his  promises." 

"What  mean  you,  sir?"  hastily  asked  Sherwood,  turning 
pale  at  the  intimation. 

"0,  I  am  merely  making  suppositions  by  way  of  answer- 
ing your  inquiries — you  must  put  your  own  constructions  up- 
on them,"  replied  Yanderpool,  with  a  look  so  equivocal  as  still 
to  leave  the  would-be  tempter  in  doubt  how  to  proceed. 


254  THE    GREEN    MOUNTAIN    BOYS. 

"Well,  sir/'  said  Sherwood,  after  a  hesitating  pause,  "what 
am  I  to  understand  3^ou  are  willing  to  do  in  this  business? 
Eeally  a  hard  case  for  me,  Squire — what  do  you  say  upon 
the  whole?" 

"Upon  the  whole,  then,"  replied  the  indignant  attorney, 
looking  the  other  sternly  in  the  face,  "I  say,  sir,  that  it  does 
not  follow  that  I  am  a  villain  and  unworthy  the  trust  reposed 
on  me,  because  others  may  think  they  can  make  me  so.  I  am 
sole  executor  on  your  father's  estate; — the  real  estate,  which 
is  but  a  small  portion  of  the  property,  you  can  take  possession 
of  as  soon  as  you  please,  as  to  the  rest,  I  shall  take  and  keep 
charge  of  it  for  the  present.  I  know  my  duty, both  towards  you, 
and  others  concerned,  and  you  may  depend  I  shall  do  it.  My 
supper  waits.     Good  evening,  sir." 

So  saying,  and  taking  his  hat,  the  independent  and  incor- 
ruptible attorney  turned  his  back  on  the  other,  and  immedi- 
ately left  the  office. 

Yexed  and  discomfited  at  the  failure  of  his  attempt,  and 
alarmed  at  the  startling  intimations  which  had  fallen  from 
Vanderpool,  Sherwood  turned  his  steps  homeward.  Eeascn- 
ing  from  his  own  principles  and  feelings,  he  supposed  that 
the  attorney  would  never  have  withstood  the  different  tempta- 
tions which  had  thus  been  placed  before  him,  unless  he  knew 
that  the  property  was  about  to  pass  into  the  hands  of  others, 
whom  it  was  now  more  his  interest  to  serve.  And  joining  his 
argument,  unanswerable  to  one  wdio  could  scarcely  conceive 
of  actions  not  prompted  by  interested  and  selfish  motives, 
with  the  contemptuous  bearing  of  the  attorney,  and  the  inti- 
mations he  had  dropped,  the  partially- deceived,  though  justly 
punished  heir  arrived  at  the  maddening  conclusion,  that  his 
father  must  have  bequeathed  the  greatest  portion  of  his  prop- 
erty to  others;  and  in  all  probability  to  the  Hendee  family, 
to  whom,  besides  being  his  only  near  relatives  now  left,  his 
penitent  and  remorseful  feelings  would  naturally  direct  his 
mind.  And  in  addition  to  this,  he  was  not  without  strong  ap- 
prehensions, that  his  father  had  imparted  to  Vanderpool  the 
secret  which  was  contained  in  the  letter  directed  to  Captain 
Hendee,  and  which,  in  case  the  son  of  the  latter  was  alive, 
would  greatly  multiply  the  chances  of  losing  the  other  part 
of  the  property,  also.  And  no  sooner  had  he  become  confirmed 
in  these  conclusions,  than  he  made  up  his  mind  in  regard  to 
the  only  alternative  which  he  believed  was  now  left  him  for 


THE    GREEN    MOUNTAIN    BOYS.       '  255 

securing  the  property.  Accordingly,  after  making  a  few  brief 
arrangements  with  a  neighbor  for  managing  the  farm,  he 
started  that  very  night,  and  proceeded  with  all  possible  ex- 
pedition to  the  New  Hampshire  Grants,  where  we  will  en- 
deavor to  meet  him  in  another  chapter. 


CHAPTER  VIII. 


'Oh!  what  a  tangled  web  we  weave. 
When  first  we  practice  to  deceive." 


After  a  rapid  journey  by  land,  Sherwood  arrived  at  his 
house  in  the  Grants,  inauspiciously  for  his  present  object,  on 
the  very  evening  on  which  his  base  and  execrable  maneuvers 
to  cause  the  dismissal  of  AYarrington  had  been  discovered  by 
Miss  Hendee,  in  the  manner  we  have  described.  And  deeply 
intent  on  carrying  into  execution  his  project  of  a  union  with 
her,  whom  he  supposed  to  be  still  the  dupe  of  his  machinations, 
believing  this  now  to  be  Ms  only  resource  for  securing  the 
property,  and  being  deteirmined  to  accomplish  it,  if  possible, 
before  the  provisions  of  his  father's  will  should  be  made 
known,  to  lessen  his  chances  of  success,  he,  early  the  next 
morning,  repaired  to  her  residence,  for  the  purpose  of  urging 
an  immediate  fulfillment  of  the  engagement,  which  he  now 
chose  to  claim  as  having  for  several  years  existed  betv\^een 
them.  And  from  the  well  known  wishes  of  the  father,  on 
whom  he  counted  for  a  strong  ally,  and  the  late  acquiescent 
manner  of  the  daughter,  he  had  the  fullest  confidence  that  he 
should  be  able  to  bring  about  his  object  with  very  little  diffi- 
culty or  delay.  When  he  arrived,  however,  he  soon  saw  indi- 
cations which  considerably  lowered  the  tone  of  his  assurance. 
In  the  first  place,  he  was  not  at  all  pleased  to  find,  as  he  un- 
expectedly did,  that  Miss  Eeed  had  taken  up  her  residence  in 
the  family,  believing  that  she,  from  the  connection  which  he 
suspected  she  sustained  with  Selden,  the  friend  of  "Warrington, 
Avoiild  naturally  exercise  her  influence  against  one  of  whom 
she  had  doubtless  received  unfavorable  impressions.  And  in 
17 


256  THE    GREEN    MOUNTAIN    BOYS. 

addition  to  this^  his  quick  eye  detected  a  change  in  tlie  manner 
of  Alma  herself  towards  him,  which  he  fancied  had  reference 
to  the  subject  of  his  present  anxiety.  And  even  in  the  demeanor 
of  the  father,  he  thought  he  perceived  a  want  of  cordiality, 
which  never  before  marked  his  receptions.  But  notwith- 
standing all  these  discouraging  appearances,  he  determined 
on  persevering  in  his  original  purpose.  And,  carefully  abstain- 
ing from  all  mention  of  his  father's  death,  he  early  sought  a 
private  interview  with  Miss  Hendee,  who,  with  a  sort  of  busi- 
ness-like promjDtitude,  and  with  the  air  of  one  who  is  fully 
prepared  for  an  eclaircissement,  immediately  assented  to  his 
proposal. 

"Mr.  Sherwood  has  something  particular  to  offer,  I  con- 
clude?'' enquiringly  said  Alma,  with  a  most  freezing  dignity 
of  manner,  as  soon  as  they  were  seated  in  a  room  by  them- 
selves. 

"Why,  you  know.  Alma,  my  attentions  to  you  have  ever 
been  particular,"  replied  Sherwood,  with  what  he  intended 
for  an  endearing  smile. 

"Enough  so,  certainly,"  was  the  ecjuivocal  response. 

"Well,  I  am  happy,"  rejoined  the  other,  purposely  constru- 
ing the  remark  in  his  own  favor,  "that  you  acquit  me  of 
any  neglect  in  my  attentions  to  one  who  is  so  worthy  of 
them,  and  one  in  whom  I  have  ever  felt  so  deep  an  interest." 

"You  have  manifested  but  little  lack  of  interest  in  me,  or 
my  concerns,  I  am  free  to  acknowledge,  sir,"  remarked  Alma, 
in  the  same  equivocal  manner. 

"I  hope  I  am  not  doubted  in  this  respect,"  said  Sherwood, 
with  the  air  of  an  arraigned  school  boy,  attempting  to  put 
an  immaterial  issue,  in  order  to  escape,  or  delay  a  blow, 
which  he  sees  the  disposer  of  his  fate  is  preparing  to  give 
him. 

"0,  not  in  the  least,  sir,"  replied  Alma,  in  a  tone  and  man- 
ner still  more  ironical  and  significant  than  before;  "for  I  have 
lately  received  a  sufficient  proof  of  the  interest  you  have  taken 
in  my  affairs,  in  the  confession  of  a  certain  tinker,  whom  you 
may  recollect  having  consulted  on  the  subject,  on  a  former 
occasion?" 

"Why — now — really!"  stammered  Sherwood,  utterly  discon- 
certed at  this  cutting  allusion  to  a  transaction  which  he  sup- 
posed was  known  only  to  himself  and  the  immediate  actor  in 


THE    GREEN    MOUNTAIN    BOYS.      '  257 

the  affair:  ^^really.  Miss  Hendee,  I  have  not  the  happiness  of 
understanding  your  meaning/^ 

"Would  further  disclosures  be  likely  to  increase  your  hap- 
piness in  that  respect,  sir?"  asked  Alma,  coolly. 

"I  did  not  seek  this  interview.  Miss  Hendee,"  rejoined  the 
other,  now  recovering  his  assurance,  "to  listen  to  a  recital  of 
all  the  slanders  that  may  have  happened  to  reach  your  ears; 
but  I  sought  it  on  more  important  business." 

"I  will  not  hear  your  proposition,  sir,"  said  she,  without 
deigning  any  further  reply. 

"Why,  surely.  Alma,"  observed  Sherwood,  in  an  expostu- 
lating tone,  "I  know  not  how  I  have  had  the  misfortune  to 
offend  you,  as  from  your  manner,  I  fear  I  have.  I  had  fondly 
anticipated  a  different  reception.  I  had  at  last  arranged  my 
business,  so  that  I  felt  myself,  for  the  first  time  since  our 
intimacy,  at  liberty  to  settle  down  in  life;  and,  accordingly,  1 
came  to  propose  a  consummation  of  the  engagement,  which  has 
been  so  long  settled  between  us." 

"I  v/onder,  sir,"  said  Alma,  "you  had  not  first  made  knovrn 
your  intentions  to  my  father,  with  whom  the  engagement  you 
claim  to  exist,  was  made,  I  believe.  Perhaps  you  might  meet 
with  better  success  in  that  quarter." 

"You  seem  disposed  to  trifle  with  my  feelings.  Miss  Hen- 
dee,'^  rejoined  Sherwood,  growing  restless.  "I  wish  for  a 
direct  answer,  whether  you  will,  or  will  not,  fulfill  your  en- 
gagement Avith  me." 

"A  direct  ansv/er,  sir,  then  you  shall  have;  and  I  will  add,  I 
feel  not  a  little  grateful  for  being,  for  the  first  time  since  my 
acquaintance  with  you,  allowed  the  opportunity  of  giving  one.. 
Mr.  Sherwood,  I  shall  never  voluntarily  unite  my  destinies  with 
yours." 

"Surely  you  would  not  break  a  solemn  engagement?" 
"A  passive  acquiescence — a  tacit  consent,  wrung  from  me 
by  the  force  of  circumstances,  is,  as  you  well  know,  sir,  all  the 
engagement  that  you  can  claim  of  me.  And  even  that,  your 
conscience  must  tell  you,  you  have  long  since  forfeited  by 
your  own  conduct." 

"Are  you  prepared.  Miss,  for  the  consequences  which  may 
follow  the  step  you  seem  determined  on  taking?" 

"You  do  well,  sir,  I  acknowledge,  to  remind  me  of  that 
consideration,"  bitterly  retorted  the  indignant  maiden;  "for  I 
am  aware  that  it  is  no  light  matter  to  brave  the  revenge 


258  THE   GREEN   MOUNTAIN   BOYS. 

of  one  who  could  instigate  the  assassination  of  a  supposed 
rival." 

Sherwood  started  as  if  stung  by  an  adder,  at  the  damning 
truth  of  the  allusion.  His  face  became  fairly  livid  with  sup- 
pressed rage  and  chagrin,  and  biting  his  bloodless  lips,  he 
rose  and  slunk  out  of  the  apartment,  as  would  a  demon  from 
the  presence  of  some  pure  being  from  the  skies,  without  utter^ 
ing  one  word  in  his  own  defense,  or  even  lifting  his  eyes  to  the 
withering  countenance,  which  was  bent  upon  him,  with  a  look 
of  mingled  pity,  abhorrence,  and  contempt.  Leaving  the 
house,  the  discomfited  villain  immediately  sought  Captain 
Hendee  in  an  adjoining  field,  for  the  purpose  of  instigating 
the  old  gentleman  to  measures  of  compulsion  upon  the  re- 
fractory daughter,  in  furtherance  of  his  designs.  But  here, 
also,  he  was  unexpectedly  doomed  to  disappointment  and  de- 
feat. Upon  Alma's  return  to  the  house,  after  the  receipt  of 
the  communication  exposing  the  baseness  of  Sherwood,  she 
had  sought  an  interview  with  her  father,  read  him  the  letter, 
frankly  confessed  her  own  feelings,  and  disclosed  all  she  knew, 
no't  only  of  the  course  and  conduct  of  Sherwood,  but  also  that 
of  AYarrington,  for  a  part  of  which  she  was  indebted  to  her 
fair  companion,  who  in  turn  received  it  from  her  lover,  Selden, 
the  intimate  of  Warrington.  And  among  the  rest,  she  ,had 
made  known  to  the  astonished  father  the  magnanimous  con- 
duct of  the  latter  in  regard  to  his  ownership  of  the  land  on 
which  the}^  resided,  the  circumstances  of  which  she  herself  had 
never  been  apprised  of  till  that  very  evening.  And  although 
the  old  gentleman  had  listened  to  her  disclosures  without  ut- 
tering a  single  word  in  reply,  from  which  she  could  learn  his 
opinions  on  the  subject,  her  communications,  nevertheless,  had 
produced  a  deep  impression  on  his  mind  and  feelings,  that  were 
now  fluctuating  back  and  forth,  like  contending  currents  of 
wind,  when  but  a  slight  impulse  is  required  to  turn  them  back 
in  fury  in  a  direction  exactly  the  reverse  from  that  in  which 
they  commenced  blowing. 

^'I  little  expected.  Captain  Hendee,"  said  Sherwood,  with 
the  air  of  an  injured  man,  as  he  approached  the  other,  "I 
little  expected,  sir,  when  I  arrived  here  to  have  met  with 
the  reception  which  I  have  just  received  from  your  daugh- 
ter." 

*^Why,  what's  the  matter,  sir, — what's  the  matter?"  re- 
,plied  the  Captain,  with  an  air  of  indifference. 


TilE    GREEN   MOUNTAIN   BOYS.      ^  ^59 

^^Tlie  matter,  sir?  wliy,  your  dangliter  refuses  to  fulfill  her 
engagement  to  me,  sir." 

^'Ah!  what  reasons  did  she  give  for  that,  sir?" 

"No  good  reasons,  sir.  She  has  been  listening  to  the  tales 
of  slanderers — some  enemy  has  been  prejudicing  her  mind 
against  me,  by  falsehoods — utter  falsehoods,  sir!" 

"Or  has  she  not  heard,  rather  more  truth  about  your  ma- 
neuvres  than  you  intended  should  have  reached  her  ears? 
Come,  now,  be  honest,  Jake,  and  tell  me." 

"Are  you,  too,  in  the  league  against  me? — am  I  to  under- 
stand that  you,  too,  justify  her  in  this  course,  sir?"  hastily 
demanded  Sherwood,  nettled  at  the  cool,  indifferent  manner 
of  the  other,  as  much  as  at  the  blunt  severity  involved  in  his 
question.  "I  had  little  expected  this  from  you,  sir!  I  should 
have  supposed  the  interest  of  your  family  would  prompt  you 
to  a  different  course." 

"Hinging  on  my  obligations,  are  you,  sir?"  said  the  Cap- 
tain, turning  fiercely  on  the  other,  with  eyes  flashing  indigna- 
tion. "Look  ye,  Jake  Sherwood,  I  have,  from  the  very  first, 
used  all  reasonable  exertions  with  my  daughter,  to  reconcile 
her  to  this  match.  And  even  more,  I  have  done  that,  which, 
when  I  have  looked  upon  her  fading  face,  and  knew  that  she 
was  martyring  her  own  heart  to  please  me,  has  smitten  my  con- 
science for  years.  And  now  I  am  resolved  to  leave  her  to  make 
her  own  decisions,  unbiased  by  word  of  mine.  And  as  to  your 
threats,  sir,  all  I  have  to  say  is,  go,  and  do  your  worst!  Take 
all  there  is  here  to  yourself,  if  that  will  satisfy  you;  or  go 
join  the  enemies  of  your  country,  as  I  have  long  suspected  you 
intended,  and  bring  them  down  upon  us  to  murder  and  des- 
troy, if  you  choose.  But  donH  think  to  buy  and  bribe  me  to 
sell  my  own  flesh  and  blood!  And  don^t  come  here  again,  sir, 
with  accusations  against  us,  till  you  can  come  with  cleaner 
hands.     Good  morning,  sir!" 

So  saying,  the  indig-nant  old  man  unceremoniously  turned 
his  back  on  his  abashed  and  astonished  guest,  and  hastily 
hobbled  off  to  his  work;  while  the  latter,  after  standing  mute 
and  motionless,  on  the  spot  several  minutes,  and  leering  on 
the  receding  form  of  the  other,  with  the  concentrated  malice 
of  a  fiend  in  his  looks,  slowly  turned  away,  muttering  between 
his  clenched  teeth,  "Revenge!  revenge!  I  wonder  if  they  will 
cheat  me  out  of  that  too?" 

Feeling  no  desire  of  returning  to  the  house,  or  again  encoun- 


260  THE    GREEN    MOUNTAIN    BOYS. 

tering  any  of  its  inmates^  Sherwood  now  struck  across  tlio 
fields,  and  directed  his  course  towards  Snake  Mountain,  at  the 
particular  spot  which  we  have  before  described  as  the  encamp- 
ment of  the  Green  Mountain  Boys;  but  which  was  now  occu- 
pied by  another  and  a  far  dilf erent  company.  To  this  place  wq 
will  now  take  the  reader  preceding  the  baffled  intriguer  a  short 
time,  to  take  a  glance  at  the  party  there  assembled. 

Sherwood  had  secretly  been  in  the  interests  of  the  Royalists 
for  nearly  two  years  previous  to  this  period  of  our  story;  and 
more  than  a  year  before  he  had  received  a  captain's  com- 
mission, with  directions  to  raise  a  company  in  the  Xew  Hamp- 
shire Grants,  in  which,  he  had  represented  to  the  British 
officers,  with  whom  he  privately  kept  up  a  communication, 
were  to  be  found  many  faithful  adherents  of  the  Crown.  And 
Darrow,  through  Sherwood's  influence,  had  also  been  com- 
missioned as  Lieutenant  of  the  contemplated  company.  But 
with  all  that  this  pair  of  military  worthies  were  able  to  efffict, 
they  never  had  found  more  than  about  a  half  dozen  men  in 
this  settlement,  to  wdiom  they  dared  to  propose  an  enlistment 
into  the  king's  service.  These,  with  about  an  equal  number 
picked  up  within  the  borders  of  New  York,  they  had  at  length 
enrolled,  and  organized  into  a  fragment  of  a  company,  which, 
for  the  first  time,  had  been  called  out  a  few  days  previous  to 
this  time,  with  the  view  of  cooperating  with  the  invading  army 
of  Burgoyne.  About  a  dozen  in  all,  they  were  now  encamped, 
on  the  ground  formerly  taken,  as  before  mentioned,  by  War- 
rington and  his  companions,  and  were  waiting  in  conceal- 
ment, the  approach  of  the  British  hordes,  that  were  now 
pouring  down  upon  the  devoted  settlement  from  the  north. 

At  the  time  we  would  introduce  this  group  to  the  reader, 
Darrow  had  just  arrived  from  the  British  camp,  whither  he 
had  been  despatched  by  Sherwood,  wdien  the  latter  was  on 
the  point  of  setting  out  on  his  recent  visit  to  Albany.  And 
having  taken  some  refreshment,  the  lieutenant  was  now  sit- 
ting on  a  rough  bench,  near  the  entrance  of  their  shantee,  en- 
joying a  little  repose  after  the  fatigues  of  his  morning's  march. 
He  had  fallen  into  a  doze,  and  appeared  to  be  lost  to  all  ex- 
ternal objects;  while  the  men  within,  mostly  morose,  sullen 
looking  fellows,  were  some  of  them  playing  cards,  some  tell- 
ing stories,  and  otliers  talking  over  the  plans  they  had  formed 
to  revenge  themselves  upon  certain  families  in  the  settlement, 
against  whom  they  entertained  private  grudges,  as  soon  as  they 


THE    GREEN    MOUNTAIN    BOYS.        '  261 

should  be  let  loose  upon  the  inhabitants,  at  present  wholly  nn- 
protected  by  any  military  force  within  their  borders^  and  but 
little  aware  of  the  dangers  that  awaited  them. 

At  this  moment,  Sherwood,  having  passed  the  line  of  sen- 
tries, posted  at  intervals  round  the  encampment,  more  to 
guard  against  being  seen  and  reported  by  the  inhabitants,  than 
any  expected  attack,  approached  his  sleeping  subaltern,  and 
tapped  him  lightly  on  the  shoulder.  But  the  latter  not 
awakening,  the  other  grasped  his  coat  collar,  and  gave  him  a 
rough,  impatient  shake,  at  which  the  sleeper,  suddenly  start- 
ing, leaped  on  his  feet,  and  dashing  away  the  grasping  hand  of 
his  superior,  fiercely  exclaimed: 

"Fll  be  d — ned,  if  you  shall!  You  have  come  before  your 
time,  be  off!  be  off,  I  say!  Oh!  ah!"  he  continued,  rubbing 
his  eyes,  and  beginning  to  distinguish  between  the  reality  and 
the  image  that  appeared  to  have  been  haunting  his  dreaming 
fancy:  "Why,  Captain,  it  is  only  you  after  all,  is  it?  Well, 
well,  now!" 

"Why,  who  did  you  suppose  it  was,  Darrow,  I  should  like  to 
know?" 

"0,  no  matter,  now, — I  was  in  the  middle  of  a  cursed  dream, 
and  thought  a  different  character  had  waited  on  me  to  do  a 
little  business  in  his  line — though  not  so  very  different,  per- 
haps.   But  let  the  humbug  go — ^rvdiat  is  the  news?" 

"Everything  that  is  bad,"  replied  Sherwood,  morosely.  "The 
very  devil  himself,  I  would  not  have  believed,  could  baffle  me 
so  much  in  my  plans,  as  I  have  been,  since  I  saw  you." 

"Why,  what  now.  Captain?  you  seem  rather  out  of  humor 
— what  has  happened?" 

"In  the  first  place  the  old  man  is  dead.  He  died  the  day 
before  I  arrived." 

"Well,  what  of  that?  He  did  not  carry  off  his  money  with 
him,  did  he?" 

"No,  but  he  got  penitent  before  he  went  off,  and  wrote  out 
a  confession  of  that  old  affair,  in  a  letter  to  Hendee." 

"And  you  let  it  reach  him,  hey?" 

"Not  so  big  a  fool  as  you  think.  I  gave  it  to  the  flames,  be- 
fore it  was  read  by  anyone  but  myself,  I  think." 

"Very  well,  where  are  your  great  troubles,  then?" 

"Why — why — "  replied  Sherwood,  hesitating  to  inform  the 
other,  as  he  was  about  to  do,  the  particulars  about  the  will, 
and  the  extent  of  his  fears  respecting  the  disposition  of  the 


262  THE    GREEN   MOUNTAIN    BOYS. 

property,  lest  the  minion  might  consider  it  for  his  interest  to 
betray  him  to  the  Hendees;  "why,  I  did  not  think  to  name  it/' 
continued  the  artful  dissembler,  deciding  the  question  he  had 
been  debating  in  his  mind  in  the  negative,  "but,  upon  the 
whole,  as  you  already  know  so  much  about  the  affair,  I  think 
I  will:  well,  getting  home  last  night,  I  thought  I  would  go 
down  to  Hendee's  this  morning;  so  I  went,  and  soon  found 
the  devil  to  pay.  That  snealdng  tinker  had  been  there,  and 
confessed  all,  and  the  girl  fairly  spurned  me  from  her  presence; 
while  her  father — curse  the  old  dotard!  he,  though  owing 
me  for  half  his  living  for  years,  had  the  audacity  to  in- 
sult me — yes,  insult  me.  Bill.  But'' — and  he  nodded  signifi- 
cantly. 

"But  what?" 

"I  can  help  myself,  Darrow." 

"Well,  I  would  do  it,  Jake,  without  any  more  puttering 
with  the  proud  minx." 

"I  will.  My  plans  are  fixed.  When  did  you  return  from 
head  quarters?" 

"Kot  two  hours  ago — I  left  there  early  this  morning." 

"What  is  the  news  ?" 

"The  whole  army  have  moved  on  to  the  mouth  of  the 
Boquet,  Avhere  they  are  now  encamped.  A  large  body  of 
Indians  joined  them  yesterday,  and  General  Burgoyne  dis- 
tributed presents  among  them^  made  a  speech  to  fix  them  for 
fight,  and  wound  ofi:  by  giving  them  a  grand  war-feast.  Hell 
and  thunder!  what  whooping  and  yelling  there  was  there  last 
night!  one  would  have  thought  that  all  tophet  had  been 
emptied  upon  the  earth,  and  that  the  world  was  alive  with 
devils!" 

"Good!  Just  the  instruments  for  our  purpose  in  punishing 
the  doubly  damned  rebels  of  this  settlement.  But  did  not  the 
General  send  me  any  directions?" 

"Yes,"  replied  Darrow,  taking  a  letter  from  his  pocket, 
"he  sent  you  this,  and  also,"  he  continued,  stepping  within 
the  shantee  and  bringing  out  a  thick  package  of  papers,  "and 
also  this  bundle  of  proclamations,  to  be  immediately  distri- 
buted over  the  settlement." 

"Well,  let  us  first  see  what  the  General  has  written  me," 
said  Sherwood  breaking  the  superb  seal,  and  reading  the  con- 
tents of  the  letter,  a  very  fair  specimen  of  the  official  fustian 
of  its  doughty  author,  who,  it  may  be  recollected,  was  a  fop 


THE    GREEN    MOUNTAIN    BOYS.       '  263 

in  literature  as  well  as  a  braggart  in  arms.    The  communica- 
tion ran  thus: — - 

J.  Sherwood,  Esq.,  Captain  of  His  Majesty's  Loyal  Americans 

in  the  N"ew  Hampshire  Grants, — 

It  is  one  of  the  felicities  of  soldiership,  and  of  the  gratifica- 
tions of  a  commander,  to  award  the  meed  of  approbation  to 
fidelity  in  a  common  cause,  and  fealty  to  a  common  sovereign. 
This  meed,  sir,  I  deem  it  no  flattery  to  say  is  yours,  speaking, 
as  I  do,  from  ]3ersonal  acquaintance,  and  on  the  voucher  of 
Colonel  Beverly  Eobinson,  a  Loyal  American  officer,  of  worth, 
and  zeal,  and  activit}^ 

The  army  under  my  command  will  now  in  a  day  or  two 
move  southwardly,  mainly  by  water,  but  partly  by  land  on 
either  side  of  the  lake.  To  you,  sir,  and  the  brave  and  loyal  men 
whom  you  have,  and  may  yet  further  induce  to  act  with  you^ 
we  look  for  a  hearty  co-operation  in  all  that  can  be  effected 
on  the  eastern  shore,  and,  by  the  blessings  of  God,  I  will  effect 
much,  while  we  i3roceed  to  the  investiture,  and  consequent  cap- 
ture of  Crown  Point,  Ticonderoga,  and  all  other  opposing 
obstacles,  on  our  victorious  march  to  Albany.  I  send  you  by 
the  bearer.  Lieutenant  William  Darrow^  a  package  of  procla- 
mations>  issued  by  me,  and  signed  by  the  same,  and  counter- 
signed by  Epbert  Kingston,  Esquire,  Secretary.  They  are  ad- 
dresses to  the  deluded  and  suffering  people  of  your  settle- 
ment. I  anticipate  great  and  universal  effect  from  this  appeal^ 
made  irresistible,  as  it  is,  by  offers  of  royal  mercy  to  the  peni- 
tent, arguments  of  ineffable  potency  to  the  deceived  by  rebel 
sophistry  and  falsehood,  and  by  the  palpable  shadowing  forth 
of  the  sword  of  justice,  in  the  contingent  action  of  our  red 
allies,  to  the  perverse  and  stubborn.  You  will  cause  one  of 
these^  my  proclamations,  to  be  immediately  left  at  every  cot- 
tage and  hamlet,  if  possible,  in  the  settlement — ^to  the  pro- 
testations of  which  proclamation,  together  with  such  pecuniary 
inducements  as  you  may  deem  it  expedient  to  offer  towards 
redeeming  the  land  from  the  disgrace  and  ruinous  anarchy 
of  an  unnatural  rebellion,  and  restoring  a  government  of  laws, 
of  honor,  of  legitimate  and  happy  sovereignty,  you  will  add 
your  own  attestations. 

With  sentiments,  believe  me, 

my  very  dear  sir,  of  esteem, 

J.  Burgoyne. 


264  THE    GREEN    MOUNTAIN    BOYS. 

"There!  what  think  you  of  that,  Bill?"  exultingly  ex> 
claimed  Sherwood,  as  he  concluded  the  perusal  of  the  precious 
document.  "Is  not  that  a  handsome  thing  for  a  man,  who 
stands  so  high  at  the  British  court,  to  say  to  and  of  us?" 

"Why,  yes,  Captain,  what  he  means  is  well  enough,  I 
s'pose;  but  if  a  British  General  had  not  writ  it,  I  should 
have  called  some  of  it  nothing  but  damn  flumididdle." 

"0,  it  is  a  feather  in  our  caps,  Darrow,  depend  on't.  Bur- 
goyne  is  hand  and  glove  with  the  king  and  ministers,  be- 
sides being  a  noted  warrior.  He  will  conquer  all  the  northern 
colonies.  The  rebellion,  indeed,  is  as  good  as  crushed  al- 
ready. And  then  the  country  will  be  divided  oif  into  lordships, 
and  those,  who  have  been  most  active  in  subduing  the  rebels, 
will  all  receive  rich  rewards  out  of  their  confiscated  estates. 
Bright  days  are  before  us.  Bill.  And  while  we  are  thus  mak- 
ing our  fortunes,  what  a  glorious  chance  to  pay  off  old  scores 
upon  these  rascally  settlers?  You  can  safely  act  out  nature 
now.  Bill,  with  a  vengeance.  We  will  have  our  revenge,  and 
the  beauty  of  it  is,  that  others  must  father  our  deeds,  and  pay 
us  well  into  the  bargain  for  what  it  is  only  a  happiness  to 
perform." 

"What  are  your  plans.  Captain?" 

"You,  or  I,  must  go,  this  very  night,  over  to  the  British 
camp,  and  get  Burgoyne  to  let  us  have  fifty  redskins  to  make 
up  our.compan}^  We  shall  want  them  soon,  and  perhaps  I 
may,  for  the  first  purpose." 

"Damn  it,  Jake,  you  are  too  thirsty,"  said  the  minion, 
looking  keenl}^  at  the  other  and  comprehending  the  purpose 
of  which  he  spoke:  "they  are  your  own  flesh  and  blood. 
You  donH  mean  to  let  those  red  devils  loose  upon  them,  do 
you?" 

"i^o;  but  leave  me  to  take  care  of  them.  They  need  not 
be  harmed,  but  prisoners  they  shall  be  till  that  haughty  jade's 
pride  is  brought  to  begging  terms.  And  this  is  the  first  case, 
Darrow,  to  be  attended  to." 

"I  am  not  quite  sure  but  there  is  another  case  for  you  to 
attend  to,  also,  Jake." 

"'AVhat  is  that?"  asked  Sherwood,  turning  to  the  other, 
with  a  look  of  blended  curiosity  and  apprehension. 

"Why,  perhaps  it  is  all  nothing  but  a  iiotion,  after  all.  But 
I  will  tell  3^ou  the  wrinkle  that^s  got  into  my  head,  and  how  it 
got  there.     In  coming  from  head  quarters  to-day,  I  ran  my 


THE    GREEN    MOUNTAIN    BOYS.  265 

canoe  generally  close  in  to  the  shore  of  the  other  side  of  the 
lake,  and,  on  arriving  within  abont  a  mile  of  Crown  Point, 
and  abont  as  far  as  I  intended,  before  crossing  over  to  this 
side,  I  took  it  into  my  head  I  would  go  np  into  the  woods, 
climb  a  tree,  and  try  to  get  a  peep  into  the  fort,  as  the  general 
asked  me  very  particularly  about  the  number  of  the  garrison 
there.  Well,  I  went  on  a  piece  into  the  woods,  when  I  heard 
the  steps  of  some  one  crossing  my  course  ahead,  and  taking  his 
way  to  the  fort;  so  I  squatted  down  in  an  old  tree  top,  where 
I  could  remain  unseen  till  he  passed  by.  His  course  brought 
him  within  a  few  rods  of  the  spot  where  I  lay;  and  when  near- 
ly abreast  of  me,  he  mounted  an  old  log,  and,  without  discover- 
ing me,  took  a  sort  of  leisurely  survey  of  the  woods  around 
him,  turning  his  face  so  as  to  give  me  a  fair  view  of  his  coun- 
tenance— and — '' 

"Well,  what  more  about  it — who  and  what  was  he?" 

"Why,  though  not  in  full  uniform,  I  think  he  must  be  a 
young  rebel  officer,  who  had  been  out  with  his  gun  for  game. 
Though  he  must  have  arrived  at  the  fort  quite  lately." 

"But  who  do  you  mistrust  him  to  be?"  asked  Sherwood, 
with  evident  uneasiness. 

"That  is  the  question  that  has  been  bothering  my  brains 
ever  since.  Jake,  don't  you  think  it  possible  for  a  man  to 
wear  about  the  same  face  and  look  that  he  did  when  a  boy, 
so  that  one,  who  had  never  seen  him  from  four  or  jBve  years 
old,  would  know  him  again  when  grown  up?^' 

"Yes,  barely  possible;  but  what  the  devil  are  you  coming 
to.  Bill?  What  has  that  to  do  with  this  case?"  demanded 
Sherwood,  with  an  agitation  which  he  was  unable  to  conceal. 

"May  be  a  good  deal.  There  was  something  in  this  fel- 
low's looks  that  struck  me, — that  made  me  ready  to  swear  I 
had  seen  the.  same  countenance  before,  though  some  how,  not 
just  the  same  neither.  Well,  he  finally  went  on,  and  I,  forget- 
ting all  about  spying  into  the  fort,  went  back,  and  struck  off 
for  this  side,  this  fellow's  countenance  all  the  while  haunt- 
ing me,  and  working  up  a  devilish  strange,  streaked  kind  of 
feeling,  that  I  can't  very  well  describe.  Well,  as  I  was  cross- 
ing over,  still  bothering  on  the  subject,  I  happened  to  cast  my 
eyes  up  the  lake,  when  I  caught  a  glimpse  of  old  Hendee's 
house  through  the  trees;  and  by  heavens!  it  came  across  my 
mind,  like  a  flash  of  lightning,  who  the  fellow  must  be." 

"What  mean  you,  Darrow?''  exclaimed  Sherwood,  seizing 


266  THE    GREEN   MOUNTAIN   BOYS. 

the  arm  of  the  other  with  a  convulsive  grasp,  while  his  face 
became  as  pale  as  ashes. 

'^^I  mean/'  replied  Darrow,  looking  his  agitated  companion 
full  in  the  face,  and  speaking  in  a  low,  measured,  and  decisive 
tone,  "I  mean,  Jake  Sherwood,  that  if  Captain  Hendee's  boy 
lived,  he  is  now  among  us!'' 

Long  and  earnestly  communed  these  worthies  in  conjec- 
tures about  the  person  concerning  whom  Darrow  had  made,  as 
he  felt  confident  he  had,  so  startling  a  discovery.  Who  could 
he  be?  By  what  name  now  known ?  Could  he  be  aware  of  his 
own  family  history?  Had  he  discovered  his  relations?  were 
questions  which  were  raised  b}^  them,  but  without  finding  any 
satisfactory  answers.  The  two  last  questions,  however,  were  at 
length  settled  in  the  negative.  And,  after  some  further  dis- 
cussion, in  regard  to  the  best  means  of  ascertaining  more  about 
the  private  history  of  the  unconscious  object  of  their  delibera- 
tions, and  the  most  feasible  way  of  disposing  of  him,  if  the  in- 
formation gained  rendered  it  probable  he  was  the  person  they 
feared  him  to  be,  they  broke  up  their  conference,  Darrow  re- 
tiring to  rest,  and  Sherwood,  with  two  of  his  men,  as  attend- 
ants and  oarsmen,  setting  off  for  head  quarters,  fifteen  or  twen- 
ty miles  distant  from  the  tory  encampment. 


CHAPTEE    IX. 


"Sounds  from  the  waters,  sounds  upon  tlie  earth, 
Sounds  in  the  air  of  "battle!    Yet  with  these 
A  voice  is  mingling,  whose  deep  tones  give  birth 
To  faith  and  courage." 


The  storm  of  war  which  had  been  gathering  for  some  weeks 
in  the  north,  almost  unnoticed  by  the  Americans  now  began 
to  roll  down  upon  their  frontier  settlements  with  a  rapidity 
as  alarming  as  it  was  unexpected.  Although  the  leaders  of  the 
continental  army  were  aware  of  the  landing  of  a  large  British 
force  at  Quebec,  in  the  month  of  May,  from  which  an  invasion 
was  expected,  either  by  way  of  Osvrego,  as  had  previously  been 
given  out,  or  through  the  valley  of  Lake  Champlain;    yet, 


THE    GREEN    MOUNTAIN    BOYS.         '  267 

countiBg  on  tlie  same  dilatory  action,  by  whicli  all  the  move- 
ments of  the  enemy  had  been  characterized  ever  since  the  bat- 
tle of  Bunker  Hill,  they  supposed  it  might  be  late  in  the  sum- 
mer before  the  hostile  army,  should  they  take  the  eastern 
route,  would  reach  the  military  posts  on  Champlain.  But 
whatever  might  have  been  the  errors  of  other  British  com- 
manders in  the  respect  just  named,  none  of  that  kind  certainly 
could  be  chargeable  on  General  Burgoyne.  The  navigable 
waters  of  the  north  had  scarcely  burst  their  wintry  fetters  be- 
fore he  landed  at  Montreal.  And  in  another  week  he  was 
pouring  the  disciplined  bands  of  his  ^jroud  and  numerous 
army  along  the  western  shores  of  Lake  Champlain.  The 
American  generals  were,  in  a  great  measure,  taken  by  surprise 
by  this  rapid  advance  of  the  enemy,  and  having  delayed  to  • 
strengthen  their  defenses,  they  were  but  illy  prepared  to 
meet  the  first  shock  of  so  powerful  a  force.  And  if  those, 
whose  duty  it  was  to  make  themselves  early  acquainted  with 
the  enemy's  movements  had  thus  been  kept  in  the  dark  re- 
specting the  important  one  in  question,  still  less,  as  may  well 
be  supposed,  were  the  inhabitants  of  the  country  apprised  of 
the  time  and  extent  of  the  coming  invasion.  The  settlers  of 
the  iSTew  Hampshire  Grants,  who  were  directly  in  the  route 
of  the  enemy,  were  consequently  almost  wholly  ignorant  of 
the  dangers  that  awaited  them  till  the  storm  was  nearly  ready 
to  burst  on  their  defenseless  heads.  And  their  surprise,  there- 
fore, was  only  equalled  by  their  dismay,  when  the  American 
scouts,  who  had  been  despatched  to  gain  intelligence  of  the  re- 
ported invasion,  returned  and  spread  the  startling  news,  that 
a  British  army  of  ten  thousand  regulars,  with  several  thou- 
sand savage  foes,  was  within  a  few  miles  of  their  borders, 
ready  to  spread  death  and  devastation  over  their  whole  settle- 
ment. This  .information,  which  many  still  hoped  might  be 
false,  or  greatly  exaggerated,  was  fully  confirmed  the  next 
morning  after  it  was  received  by  the  scouts,  by  Burgoyne's 
proclamations,  which,  through  the  activity  of  Sherwood's  band 
of  tories,  had  been  left  during  the  night  at  the  door  of  every 
house  through  all  the  northern  section  of  the  country.  This 
pompous  and  gasconading  document,  however,  with  all  its 
promises  and  threats,  had,  notwithstanding  its  author's  an- 
ticipations, no  other  effect  on  the  inhabitants  than  to  bring 
them  to  the  determination  of  driving  off  their  stock  so  far  into 
the  interior  as  to  be  out  of  the  reach  of  the  enemy,  and  of 


268  THE    GREEN    MOUNTAIN    BOYS. 

commencing  active  preparations  for  fleeing  themselves  before 
tlie  invading  army. 

^Yith  these  general  observations  on  the  situation  of  affairs 
at  this  particular  junction,  we  will  now  return  to  the  Hendee 
family,  to  follow  their  fortunes  through  the  fearful  trials 
which  were  now  shortly  to  await  them. 

It  was  not  till  night,  after  the  signal  failure  of  Sherwood 
at  their  cottage,  that  Miss  Hendee  had  an  opportunity  of  as- 
certaining what  had  passed  between  that  personage  and  her 
father  in  their  recent  interview.  That  evening  Captain  Hen- 
dee, on  his  return  from  the  labors  of  the  day,  entered  the  room 
where  Alma  happened  at  the  moment  to  be  sitting  alone,  and 
silently  took  a  seat  at  the  open  window.  A  frown  was  upon 
his  brow.  The  uneasiness,  which  a  man  of  high  spirit  may  be 
expected  to  feel  from  a  sense  of  obligations  to  one  he  secretly 
despises,  combined,  in  the  jDresent  instance,  with  the  mean  ad- 
vantage taken  of  such  obligations  by  Sherwood,  had,  all  the 
afternoon,  been  operating  upon  the  old  gentleman's  irritable 
temperament;  and  he  was  novv^  evidently  in  no  very  pleasant 
frame  of  mind.  At  the  first  glance  his  daughter  detected 
in  his  countenance  the  unfailing  indications  of  a  storm:  but 
on  whom  it  was  to  burst,  she  vs^as  unable  to  determine.  Erom 
the  circumstances  attending  the  interview  between  Sherwood 
and  her  father,  she  felt  satisfied,  that  she,  herself,  had  been 
the  subject  of  their  discourse;  and  although  extremely  anxious 
to  know  the  result  of  that  conference,  yet  she  almost  feared 
the  knowledge  she  wished  to  obtain.  And  with  trembling 
solicitude,  therefore,  she  awaited  in  silence  the  announcement, 
which  she  saw  from  her  father^s  mood,  would  not  long  be 
withheld.  After  sitting  some  minutes  pufiB.ng  away  rapidly 
at  his  pipe,  and  knitting  his  brows,  with  an  angry  flashing 
expression  of  countenance,  he  suddenly  drew  the  implement 
from  his  mouth,  and  by  way  of  knocking*  out  the  ashes, 
gave  it  so  spiteful  a  rap  on  the  window-sill  as  to  shiver  it  to 
pieces  in  his  hand.  Hastily  dashing  the  broken  fragments 
out  of  the  window,  he  turned  abruptly  to  his  daughter,  and 
said: 

^''Alma,  what  did  Jake  Sherwood  say  to  you  to-day?" 

"Why,  many  things,  father, — would  you  wish  me  to  repeat 
all  he  said?" 

^•Yes.     I  don't  hold  to  prying  into  such  matters,  for  a 


THE    GREEN    MOUNTAIN    BOYS.         '  269 

general  rule,  hut  I  have  particular  reasons  for  wishing  to  know 
now." 

Still  feeling  uncertain  on  whom  the  resentment  of  her  father 
was  about  to  fall,  Alma,  with  some  agitation,  proceeded  to 
detail  the  conversation  in  question,  giving  the  words  used  by 
Sherwood,  and  the  substance  of  her  own  replies. 

"Threats  to  you,  too,  hey?"  said  the  Captain,  after  listen- 
ing attentively  to  his  daughters  relation  of  the  affair.  "Why 
didn't  you  drive  the  pitiful  puppy  from  the  house  with  your 
broomstick  ?'' 

"You  astonish  me,  father!"  replied  Alma,  looking  up  into 
the  face  of  the  other  with  an  expression  of  joyful  surprise. 

The  old  gentleman  made  no  reply,  but  again  relapsing  into 
moody  silence,  sat  some  time  without  uttering  a  word.  At 
length  he  brought  his  foot  to  the  floor  with  an  angry,  decisive 
stamp — and  while  the  tears,  which  were  brought  to  his  eyes 
by  his  keenly  conflicting  emotions,  were  glimmering  on  the 
quickly  moving  lashes,  he  again  turned  suddenly  to  his  ex- 
pecting daughter  and  asked: 

"Alma,  are  you  willing  to  become  a  slave?" 

"For  my  own,  and  your  support,  I  could  cheerfully  be- 
come one,  dear  father.  But  a  slave  to  a  villain  I  can  never 
be." 

"Nobly  said!  spoken  with  the  spirit  of  a  Hendee!  would  to 
God  I  was  more  worthy  of  such  a  daughter!"  exclaimed  the 
passionate  old  man,  choking  with  emotion:  "come  here.  Alma, 
I  have  been  wrong,  and  you  have  been  right, — come,  come 
to  me,  my  child,  forgive  and  kiss  me." 

In  another  instant  the  father  and  daughter  were  locked 
in  each  other's  arms,  intermingling  their  tears,  and  giving 
themselves  up  to  the  gush  of  feelings  which  was  overflov.dng 
their  hearts  at  this  return  of  mutual  love  and  confidence  to 
their  long  estranged  and  distrusting  bosoms. 

"I  did  not  make  any  reply  to  you,  Alma,  when  you  laid  open 
to  me  the  conduct  of  that  base  and  intriguing  villain,"  at 
length  observed  the  Captain,  releasing  his  daughter  from  his 
embrace,  and  regaining  his  composure,  though  the  other  con- 
tinued weeping.  "But  it  was  not  because  I  doubted  the  truth 
of  what  you  told  me,  or  because  I  had  it  in  my  heart  to  try 
to  restrain  you  any  further.  It  was  because  I  felt  self-con- 
demned, guilty — guilty  for  what  I  had  already  done  in  mak- 
ing war  upon  the  happiness,  and,  I  know  not,  but  upon  the 


^70  THE    GREEN    MOUNTAIN    BOYS. 

healtlij  of  my  own^  and  only  child.  0,  don't  vreep  so — don't, 
my  dear  daughter!  Thank  God,  we  have  both  now  cut  the  ties 
by  which  we  were  held  in  bondage,  and  are  free.  The  bher- 
woods  may  have  all:  and  we  won't  trouble  them  neither  to 
drive  us  off:  we  will  leave  this  place  Alma,  for  the  southern 
part  of  the  settlement.  As  old  and  infirm  as  I  am,  I  can  still 
work.  Our  faithful  Neshobee  will  also  stick  by  us,  and  work 
as  much  as  an  Indian  will  ever  work,  for  you  know  the  Indians 
are  a  lazy  race,  and  we  must  make  allowance  for  him.  But 
at  all  events,  as  poorly  as  we  may  fare,  our  poverty  will  be 
happiness  compared  to  the  slavery  that  Jake  Sherwood  would 
now  impose  on  us  if  we  remain.  Yes^  Alma,  we  will  go — that 
is  if  you  are  willing.  What  say  you,  my  danghter,  are  you 
ready  to  relinquish  this  pleasant  home,  and  go  with  me,  penni- 
less, indeed,  but  with  the  proud  and  happy  consciousness  that 
we  are  free.^' 

^^0,  yes,  yes,  indeed,  my  dear  father,'^  eagerly  replied  the 
other,  with  a  look  of  joy  and  gratitude,  that  beamed  brightly 
through  her  still  fast  falling  tears;  '^^and  never  coiUd  an  east- 
ern slave  leave  his  gilded  fetters  behind  him  with  more  pleasure 
than  I  shall  quit  this  place.  Yes,  yes;  and,  believe  me,  my 
father,  however  hard  my  lot — ^liowever  menial  I  had  known 
would  be  my  employment  for  support,  I  have  not  seen  an  hour 
for  the  last  two  long  and  Joyless  years,  but  my  heart  would 
have  leaped  to  hear  you  make  such  a  proposal.  And  if  such 
then  were  my  feelings,  judge  what  must  now  be  my  pleasure 
to  hear  your  announcement.^^ 

The  conversation  was  here  interrupted  by  a  light  rap  on 
the  door,  and  while  the  Captain  and  his  daughter  were  pausing 
for  a  repetition  of  the  sound,  uncertain  whether  it  proceeded 
from  some  one  wishing  for  admittance,  the  door  was  partly 
opened  by  a  man  without,  and  the  queer  visage  of  our  old 
friend  Pete  Jones,  was  protruded  with  a  comical,  inquiring 
look,  into  the  room. 

"How  are  ye?"  he  said,  after  glancing  from  father  to 
daughter  a  moment,  with  a  half  sheepish,  half  roguish  ex- 
pression, indicating  his  consciousness  of  having  on  a  former 
occasion,  played  a  little  upon  the  credulity  of  the  old  gentle- 
man, of  which  he  felt  slightly  ashamed,  though  still  inwardly 
tickled  at  the  recollection  of  the  trick:  "how  are  ye,  Captain? 
Sarvant,  marm!'' 

"It  is  Mr.  Jones  of  the  army,  father,  the  person  who  gave 
me  the  news  I  imparted  to  you  respecting  the  expected  in- 


THE    GREEN    MOUNTAIN    BOYS.  27i 

rasion/'  observed  Miss  Hendee^  noticing  that  lier  father  did 
not  recognize  the  scout. 

"Ah!  the  tall  gentleman  that  called  here  once — I  recollect 
— did  yon  try  my  remedy — bnt  no  matter^  now — walk  in,  walk 
in,  sir,"  said  the  Captain. 

"Why,  no,  tankee/'  replied  Jones,  leaning  his  long  body  on 
his  arm,  and  swaying  it  to  and  fro  by  the  play  of  the  door 
on  its  hinges  as  he  grasped  the  handle,  "I  guess  I'm  rather 
too  much  in  a  hurry  about  these  times.'' 

"You  called  on  some  errand,  then? — to  give  us  some  news, 
perhaps?"  rejoined  the  Captain,  expectingly. 

"Why,  yes — that  is,  if  you  would  like  to  hear  it — that  is, 
if  you  han't  heard  it  already." 

"Speak  on,  sir." 

"AYell,  I  thought  I'd  just  pop  in  my  countenance,  as  I  came 
along  back,  to  see,  that  in  case  the  devil  was  at  your  heels, 
whether  you  would  like  to  know  it?" 

"You  speak  in  riddles — ^liow  shall  I  understand  you,  sir?" 

"Well,  I  an't  particular,  how." 

"You  said  the  devil?" 

"Yes,  and  his  name  is  Legion.  Why,  to  be  plain  about  it. 
Captain,  a  British  army  of  ten  thousand,  with  as  many  red 
skins  as  one  would  wish  to  see,  will  most  likely  be  here  before 
to-morrow  niiiht." 

"You  astonish  me,  sir!  Has  any  news  of  this  reached  the 
other  settlers  in  this  quarter?" 

"I  have  just  sent  a  brother  scout  up  the  road  here,  to  tell 
them  they  may  as  well  be  driving  off  their  cattle,  and  jogging 
along  south  themselves  in  the  course  of  to-morrow.  I  just 
come  from  the  fort  over  here,  and  they've  ^Dretty  much  con- 
cluded to  pack  up  there,  and  be  oif  for  Old  Ti.  to-night;  so 
the  red  coats  and  Indians  will  have  full  play  along  the  shores 
till  they  get  to  Ti.,  where  there  will  be  something  of  a  brush, 
likely." 

"You  would  advise  us  women  and  cripples,  then,  to  beat  a 
retreat,  would  you?" 

"Why,  yes,  that's  rather  my  notion,  considering.  Though 
Burgoyne  says — haven't  you  seen  his  proclamation?" 

"Ko." 

"Well,  you  will  soon,  I  guess.  The  tories  have  scattered  'em 
as  thick  as  bumblebees  along  north  of  here.  Burgoyne  says, 
as  nigh  as  I  can  English  the  high-flown  concern,  stay  at  home, 

18 


272  THE    GREEN    MOUNTAIN    BOYS. 

sell  Mm  your  cattle,  and  he  will  protect  you.  But  if  you 
budge  an  inch,  he  will  let  loose  the  red  skins  to  act  at  their 
pleasure  upon  you.  And  what  that  will  be,  you  know  as  well 
as  any  man,  they  say.  Captain/' 

"Yes,  I  know  enough  of  their  tender  mercies.  And  I  know 
also  that  Burg03^ne,  what  ever  he  may  promise,  can  no  more 
restrain  the  hell-hounds,  after  he  has  once  let  them  from  their 
slips,  than  he  can  crupper  the  whirlwinds.  Montcalm  tried 
that  experiment,  on  that  dreadful  day  of  blood  and  horror, 
at  Fort  William  Henry — at  least,  I  think  he  tried  to  avert 
the  catastrophe:  for  Montcalm,  though  an  enemy  that 
troubled  us  much,  was  yet  a  brave  man;  and  as  a  general  rule, 
my  friend,  you  will  never  find  a  truly  brave  man  either  cruel 
or  treacherous.  The  great  sin  is  in  employing  the  Indians. 
And  this  circumstance  will  do  much,  in  the  present  case,  to 
hasten  the  destruction  of  Burgoyne.  Even  the  dead,  almost, 
will  rise  up  to  bear  arms  against  him.  All  'New  England  in 
a  week,  will  be  in  motion.  In  another  week  as  he  passes 
along  up  the  lake  they  will  be  hanging  like  an  angry  thunder 
cloud  on  his  flank.  And,  mark  my  word,  sir,  this  General 
will  find,  before  he  reaches  Albany,  that  neither  his  numbers 
nor  his  proclamations  will  save  him." 

"The  Lord  grant  you  may  prove  a  true  prophet,  and  I  think, 
upon  the  whole,  you  will.  Howsomever,  Captain,  it  will  be 
considerable  of  a  chore  to  bring  it  all  to  pass.  And  while  we 
are  fixing  for  it,  I  rather  guess  you,  along  the  northern  parts 
here,  may  as  well  make  yourselves  scarce  a  little." 

"We  intend  it,  sir.     Indeed,  as  regards  my  family,  we  had 

alreadv  determined  on  a  removal  soon.     And  now  we  shall 

* 

follow  your  advice  immediately,  wath  many  thanks  to  you  for 
calling.  Let  me  see — our  first  move  shall  be  for  Eutland, 
where  we  can  probably  safely  remain  a  few  days,  to  conclude 
on  a  place  for  a  more  permanent  residence." 

"Will  you,  sir,"  said  Miss  Hendee,  with  a  slight  blush,  as  she 
perceived  the  scout  v\^as  about  to  depart,  "will  you  apprise 
our  friends  in  the  army  of  the  destination  we  think  of  tak- 
ing?" 

"Will  you  take  this,  sir,  to  the  person  to  whom  it  is  ad- 
dressed?" said  Miss  Eeed,  who,  during  the  latter  part  of  the 
conversation,  had  been  nimbly  plying  her  fingers  over  the 
blank  leaf  of  a  little  volume  which  she  had  been  reading  in 
an  adjoining  apartment,  when  the  scout's  voice  and  anticipated 


THE    GREEN    MOUNTAIN    BOYS.       '  273 

errand  broiigiit  lier  into  the  room.  "You  see^  Alma,  I  am  not 
afraid  to  write  to  my  beau;  now  I  will  leave  it  to  the  Cap- 
tain to  say,  who  is  the  bravest?"  she  added,  turning  to  the 
latter  with  an  expression  in  which  roguish  defiance,  and  fear 
of  disapprobation,  were  queerly  blended. 

"Ah,  girls,"  said  the  Captain  in  reply,  after  a  moment's 
hesitation,  which  seemed  to  end  in  a  conclusion  to  treat  the 
matter  good  naturedh^,  "you  may  be  setting  your  caps  for  men 
that  will  be  swinging  on  the  gallows  in  three  months:  for  you 
know,  in  attempted  revolutions,  men  are  only  patriots  and 
heroes  when  they  succeed^  and  are  but  rebels  and  traitors  when 
they  don't." 

"We  prefer,  however,"  replied  Alma,  with  spirit,  "to  set  our 
.caps  for  men  who  may  be  hung  on  that  principle,  rather  than 
for  those  who  should  be  hung  on  every  other." 

"Is  there  not  a  law.  Captain  Hendee,"  asked  Jessy,  archly, 
"that  a  man  may  be  pardoned  on  the  gallows,  if  a  lady  can  be 
found  who  will  step  up  and  marry  him  on  the  spot?" 

"Why,  I  have  heard  such  stories,"  replied  the  Captain 
laughing,  "but  supposing  there  was  such  a  provision,  in  this 
country,  you  little  quiz?" 

"Why,  in  that  case,"  replied  Jessy,  casting  a  roguish  look 
at  Alma,  "I  think  there  are  certain  officers  in  our  army  who 
need  not  be  under  any  great  apprehensions  of  being  hung  at 
present." 

"jSTow,  that  is  what  I  call  grit,"  observed  Jones,  who  had 
been  looking  on  the  two  beautiful  and  spirited  creatures  before 
him,  with  an  admiration  equaled  only  by  his  surprise.  "The 
Colonel  and  Captain  knov/  considerable  well  what  they  have 
been  about,  after  all,  I  see.  Well,  I  must  be  jogging,  I  guess. 
Captain,  so  good  night}'.  And  you,  gals,  may  the  Lord  bless 
ye  and  keep  you  steadfast  in  your  resolution!  If  I  had  a 
hogshead  of  blood,  it  should  all  be  shed  for  ye,  and  the  like 
of  ye.    Trol,  lol,  lol,  lol  de  larly!" 

During  that  night  and  the  following  day,  all  was  bustle  and 
commotion  throughout  the  northern  part  of  the  settlement. 
"To  arms!  to  arms!"  resounded  in  ever}^  direction.  And 
nearly  all  the  able  bodied  men,  promptly  responding  to  the 
call  of  General  Schuyler,  whose  expresses  were  seen  furiously 
dashing  along  the  roads  to  rally  the  hitherto  slumbering  set- 
tlement, seized  their  rifles  or  muskets  and  hastened  off  to  join 
their  countrymen  in  arms  leaving  the  old  men,  invalids  and 

IS 


274  THE    GREEN    MOUNTAIN    BOYS, 

boys_,  to  take  charge  of  their  families,  in  removing  from  the 
scene  of  danger.  The  stock  was  collected  in  droves,  marked 
with  the  initials  of  the  owner's  name  and  started  off  for  the 
south;  while  the  inhabitants,  taking  with  them  all  the  articles 
of  value,  which  their  respective  modes  of  traveling  would  per- 
mit, collected  in  small  companies,  and  soon  followed.  The 
party  whose  destinies  more  immediately  concern  our  story, 
consisting  of  Captain  Hendee,  Neshobee,  the  two  young  ladies, 
and  their  respective  female  domestics,  in  the  course  of  the  day, 
bade  adieu  to  their  pleasant  cottage,  and  mingled  in  the  gen- 
eral flight,  which,  by  night  fall,  brought  them  in  safety  to 
the  house  of  a  hospitable  friend,  nearly  twenty  miles  distant 
from  the  home,  to  which,  as  they  supposed,  they  were  never 
more  to  return. 


CHAPTER    X. 


— "Not  all  so  much  for  love 

As  for  another  secret  close  intent, 

By  marrying  her,  vv^hich  I  must  reach  unto. 

But  yet  I  run  before  my  horse  to  market: 

Clarence  still  breathes:  Edward  still  lives,  and. 

When  these  are  gone,  then  must  I  count  my  gains." 


Several  unforseen  circumstances  connected  with  the  remov- 
al of  their  elfects,  together  with  the  impression  that  they 
were  now  so  far  south  as  to  be  in  no  very  immediate  danger 
from  any  incursions  of  the  enemy,  having  induced  our  party 
to  accept  the  invitation  of  their  kind  entertainer  to  remain  a 
few  days  at  his  abode,  nearly  a  week  had  unfortunately  been 
suffered  to  elapse  without  resuming  thir  journey.  Aroused, 
however,  at  length  by  the  news  that  Burgoyne  had  reached 
Ticonderoga,  and  closely  invested  the  fortress,  while  a  party 
of  tories  and  Indians  were  ravaging  the  country  to  the  north 
of  them,  both  the  families  of  Captain  Hendee  and  his  host, 
determined  on  an  instant  departure  for  a  place  of  more  safe- 
ty. Accordingly,  with  a  few  hasty  preparations,  they  started 
in  their  respective  carriages  about  the  middle  of  the  afternoon 
for  Castleton,  which  they  were  under  the  expectation  of  be- 


THE    GREEN    MOUNTAIN    BOYS.  275 

in^  enabled  to  reach  by  dajdigbt.  The  day  being  excessively 
sultry^  Captain  Hendee^  after  traveling  awhile  at  rather  a 
brisk  pace,  checked  his  horses,  and  suffered  them  to  fall  into 
a  moderate  walk,  dnring  which  the  other  party,  who  were  in 
advance,  and  who  seemed  less  disposed  to  slacken  their  speed, 
passed  entirely  out  of  sight,  and  soon  became  vv-ideiy  separated 
from  their  more  tardy  fellow  travelers.  When  onr  party  had 
proceeded  several  miles  in  this  leisurely  manner,  and  while  the 
Captain,  to  use  a  quaint  and  somewhat  curious  expression  of 
the  poet  Parnell,  was  "deceiving  the  road,^^  by  the  relation 
of  one  of  his  old  war  stories,  they  were  met  by  a  stout  huilt, 
though  an  ordinary  looking,  and  slovenly  dressed  man  on 
horseback,  who,  after  closely  scrutinizing  the  company  a  mo- 
ment, stopped  his  horse,  indicating,  at  the  same  time  by 
his  looks  and  gestures,  a  wish  that  the  others  should  stop 
also.  Supposing  the  stranger  was  desirous  of  making  some 
inquiries.  Captain  Hendee  instantly  pulled  up  his  horses,  and 
sat  waiting,  with  an  air  of  expectation,  for  the  man  to  pro- 
ceed with  what  he  might  have  to  propose. 

"I  was  thinking  what  your  name  mought  be.  Mister,"  at 
length  began  the  horseman,  with  a  bold,  saucy  air.  '^^It 
kinder  seems  to  me  I  have  seen  you  somewhere  or  other." 

"Very  possibly,  sir,"  replied  the  Captain,  in  a  manner  suffi- 
ciently cool  and  repulsive,  as  he  thought,  to  check  the  in- 
trusive familiarity  of  the  other. 

"Well,  I  knowed  I  had,"  rejoined  the  stranger,  not  at  all 
abashed  by  the  coolness  with  which  his  advances  had  been 
met,  "and  yet  I  don^t  know  as  I  can  quite  call  you  by  name." 

"My  name  is  Hendee,  sir." 

"Ah!  0,  yes; — you  live  down  there  against  Crown  Point?" 
"Yes;  or  at  least  we  did  till  within  a  few  days.  But 
how  happens -it,  that  you  are  going  to  a  part,  which,  at  this 
time,  the  settlers  are  so  generally  deserting?" 

"Why  an't  it  safe  traveling  that  way?" 

"It  would  be  for  some,  doubtless,"  replied  the  Captain 
significantly. 

"Well,  I  s'pose  you've  hearn  of  me,"  observed  the  stranger, 
evidently  disconcerted  at  the  suspicions  which  he  perceived 
were  beginning  to  be  entertained  of  him,  "my  name  is 
David  Remington.  You  are  acquainted  in  Castleton,  an't 
you?" 

"Yes,  with  several  individuals  in  that  town." 


2t6  THE   GREEN   MOUNTAIN   BOYS. 

"Well,  that's  where  I  live,  when  Fm  to  home.  Do  you  know 
Mr.  Woodward  there?" 

"I  do,  sir." 

"I  want  to  know?  Well,  now,  he  is  one  of  my  near  neigh- 
bors.   Here's  a  paper  he  gin  me  t'other  d^y.    Jest  read  it,  will 

ye'" 

Captain  Hendee,  with  an  air  of  curiosity,  not  unmingied, 
however,  with  surprise,  at  an  offer  so  gratuitously  made  to  an 
entire  stranger,  took  the  paper,  which  the  other  now  extended 
to  him,  and  read  as  follows: — 

"This  may  certify  that  David  Eemington,  the  bearer  hereof, 
is  thought  to  be  a  true  friend  to  the  States  of  America. 

JOSEPH  WOODWAED,  Com.  of  Safety.* 
Castleton,  June  2d,  1777." 

"This  appears  to  bf^  genuine,  and  should  be  sufficient," 
remarked  the  Captain  nmsingly,  as  he  handed  back  the  paper. 
"Have  they  received  any  news  at  Castleton  within  a  day  or 
two,  sir?"  he  added,  with  more  freedom  of  manner  than  he 
had  before  exhibited  towards  the  other. 

"^ews? — ^from  where?" 

"From  our  forces  at  Ticonderoga,  I  mean,  of  course." 

"Oh,  yes,  I  s'pose  so — why,  I  came  from  there  myself,  last 
night." 

"Indeed,  sir?  Well,  what  is  the  prospect  of  St.  Clair's  being 
able  to  cope  Avith  the  enemy,  so  as  to  put  a  stop  to  their 
progress  at  that  place?" 

"Cope!  hum!  He  will  be  lucky  if  he  don't  get  coped  himself, 
I  guess." 

"What,  sir?  The  garrison  are  in  no  danger  of  being  taken 
themselves,  surely?" 

"Well,  sir,  I  don't  pretend  to  know  nothing  about  it;  but 
I  shouldn't  be  surprised  if  the  folks  about  here  heard  news, 
within  twenty-four  hours,  that  made  'em  stare." 

*  A  literal  copy  of  the  original  certificate,  lodged  in  the  public 
archives  of  Vermont,  and  accompanied  by  another  from  the  noted 
tory.  Colonel  Philip  Skene,  certifying  that  Remington  had  taken 
the  oath  of  allegiance,  and  was  a  true  Royalist.  These  papers,  to- 
gether with  a  receipt  signed  by  "J.  Sherwood,  Captain,"  for  two 
heifers  procured  far  the  British,  by  Remington,  all  dated  about 
the  same  time,  are  supposed  to  have  been  found  on  the  person 
of  this  or  other  tories,  when  subsequently  slain  oir  taken  prisoners. 


THE    GREEN    MOUNTAIN    BOYS.        .  277 

^^Impossible !  But  what  is  the  situation  of  affairs  there,  that 
leads  you  to  this  conclusion?" 

"Why,  sir,  the  situation  is,  that  General  Eed  Hazle,*  with 
his  Jarman  brigade,  has  got  possession  on  this  side  of  the  lake, 
up  as  far  as  East  Creek,  where  he  is  now  posted;  while  Gen- 
eral Burgoyne  has  entirely  enclosed  the  fort  on  the  t'other  side. 
And  what  is  still  more,  he  has  cut  out  a  road,  and  drawn  up  a 
whole  slew  of  cannon  clean  to  the  top  of  Mount  Defiance, 
which  he  will  have  all  mounted,  and  ready  to  pour  hell  and 
thunder  down  on  ^em  in  the  fort  before  they  dream  of  it." 

"Is  it  possible  that  St.  Clair  can  have  suffered  Burgoyne  to 
get  possession  of  that  commanding  spot  for  such  a  pur- 
pose !"  exclaimed  the  Captain.  "I  knew,"  he  continued,  "that 
most  of  our  officers  in  the  old  war  used  to  consider  that  moun- 
tain inaccessible  with  artillery.  I,  however,  always  thought 
differently,  and  agreed,  in  this  respect,  with  Major  Putnam, 
who,  I  well  remember,  suggested  the  project  of  getting  can- 
non up  this  eminence  to  General  Howe,  as  our  army  was 
approaching  the  fort  the  day  previous  to  the  battle  which 
cost  poor  Howe  his  life.  And  had  that  gallant  young  noble- 
man, who  was  the  only  lord  of  common  sense  whom  the 
British  ever  sent  to  America,  been  spared,  the  thing  would 
have  been  done,  and  we  should  have  taken  the  fortress,  in- 
stead of  drawing  off  our  army  without  effecting  anything. 
But,  as  I  said,  is  it  possible  that  St.  Clair  can  have  permitted 
this  in  an  army  approaching  from  the  north,  and  wholly  un- 
acquainted with  the  surrounding  localities?" 

"It  is  true,  any  how;  and  if  they  don^t  find  themselves 
in  a  pickle,  there  in  the  fort,  by  to-morrow  morning,  I  lose 
my  guess,"  replied  the  other,  with  a  satisfaction  which  he  was 
unable  wholly  to  conceal. 

After  a  few  apparently  careless  inquiries  respecting  the 
destination  of  our  travelers,  and  their  expectation  of  reach- 
ing it.  Remington  seemed  suddenly  to  become  convinced  that 
it  would  not  be  prudent  to  proceed  any  further  in  the  land- 
looking  excursion,  which  he  stated  was  his  business  to  the 
north,  and  announced  his  intention  of  immediately  returning. 

*  From  original  papers,  still  preserved,  written  by  those  whose 
spelling  was  evidently  guided  solely  by  the  common  pronuncia- 
tion of  words,  it  appears  that  Gen.  Reidesel  went,  to  a  consider- 
Elble  extent,  at  least,  by  the  name  of  Red  Hazle. 


278  THE   GREEN   MOUNTAIN   BOYS. 

Accordingly,  wheeling  round  his  horse,  and  bidding  the  com- 
pany good  day,  with  the  remark,  that  he  should  probably  ride 
rather  faster  than  their  team  would  travel,  he  rode  olf  at  a 
moderate  trot,  till  the  intervening  bushes  at  the  first  turn  of 
the  road  screened  him,  as  he  supposed,  from  the  sight  of  those 
he  had  just  left,  when  he  applied  his  whip,  and  dashed  for- 
ward at  full  speed. 

"What  opinion  did  you  form  of  that  man,  father?'^  asked 
Miss  Hendee,  after  they  had  ridden  some  distance  in  silence. 

^'Why,  but  for  the  certificate  of  so  true  and  vigilant  a  friend 
to  the  cause  as  Woodward,  who  undoubtedly  signed  it,  I  should 
certainly  have  had  strong  suspicions  that  the  fellow  was  some 
designing  tory,''  answered  the  Captain,  indirectly,  and  with 
the  tone  of  one  still  doubting  over  evidence  which  he  could 
not  reject,  nor  yet  receive  as  wholly  conclusive. 

"I  know  not,"  rejoined  the  other,  "that  I  can  give  any  good 
reasons  for  my  impressions;  but  there  was  a  certain  some- 
thing about  the  man,  which,  from  the  first,  struck  me  imfav- 
orably.  And  is  it  not  possible,  that  he  may  be  secretly  in  the 
interest  of  the  enemy,  notwithstanding  his'  certificate,  which, 
without  being  asked,  he  was  so  ready  to  show?" 

"I  noticed  his  readiness  to  show  the  paper,"  again  replied 
the  Captain,  without  any  direct  answer  to  his  daughter's 
question.  "And  it  also  occurred  to  me  that  he  appeared  to  be 
far  better  acquainted  with  the  movements  of  the  British,  than 
with  those  of  our  own  army." 

"And  did  not  you  think.  Captain  Hendee,"  observed  Miss 
Eeed,  "that  he  betrayed  a  secret  pleasure,  when  relating  the 
perilous  situation  in  which  he  stated  the  American  forces  to 
be  placed?" 

"1  don^t  know  that  I  noticed  that  in  particular,"  said  the 
Captain;  "but  if  he  be  a  tory,  and  has  told  us  the  truth,  I  fear 
he  has  too  much  reason  to  rejoice,  I  cannot,  however,  think 
that  St.  Clair  would  fail  to  keep  open  a  way  for  retreat,  so  that 
the  garrison  shall  not  be  taken  in  any  event." 

"Here,  Neshobee,"  said  Alma,  as  the  Indian,  who  had  trav- 
eled mostly  on  foot,  keeping  generally  a  few  rods  in  advance 
of  the  horses,  now  fell  back  to  the  side  of  the  carriage;  "you 
have  some  times  shown  yourself  a  shrewd  guesser;  and  we  will 
have  your  opinion  in  this  case.  Wliat  did  you  think  of  the 
man  father  was  talking  with  Just  now?" 

"Me  guess  him  have  two  tongue — mean  something  no  good," 


THE    GREEN    MOUNTAIN    BOYS.         ^  279 

replied  the  native,  in  his  usual  quiet  manner.  "Him  no  think 
me  see  him  through  the  bush,  when  him  ride  away  slow — then 
look  back  for  find  out  we  see  him,  then  whip — off  a  gallop!" 

"So  much  the  better/'  remarked  Jessy,  "for  the  faster  he 
goes,  the  further  he  will  get  from  us." 

"N'eshobee,  perhaps,  would  draw  a  different  inference,"  said 
the  Captain. 

"Why  should  he,  father?"  asked  Alma. 

But  the  other,  not  Avilling  to  alarm  the  ladies  by  nam- 
ing his  secret  apprehensions,  which,  after  all,  might  prove 
groundless,  made  only  some  evasive,  or  indifferent  reply,  and 
became  silent. 

"He  can  have  no  immediate  communication  with  the  tories 
and  Indians,  by  going  in  that  direction,"  resumed  Alma. 
"They,  if  we  are  rightly  informed,  are  still  far  behind  us." 

"They  were  behind  us,"  observed  Captain  Hendee,  relaps- 
ing into  silence,  in  which  his  example  was  soon  imitated  by  the 
rest  of  the  company,  all  of  whom  seemed  oppressed  by  that 
undefined  sense  of  impending  danger,  which  is  some  times  felt 
without  the  inclination — on  account  of  conscious  inability, 
perhaps, — of  communicating  it  to  others. 

It  was  now  drawing  towards  sunset;  and  our  party  had  yet 
nearly  ten  miles  to  travel  before  reaching  their  proposed  des- 
tination for  the  night.  They  had  been,  for  some  miles,  pass- 
ing through  a  dark,  continuous  forest,  whose  unvaried  gloom 
soon  began  to  be  increased  by  the  shades,  which,  before  the 
usual  hour,  were  slowly  stealing  over  the  wilderness,  in  con- 
sequence of  the  broad  and  deepening  masses  of  vapor  now 
gathering  along  the  western  horizon.  And  presently,  the  low, 
deep  rumbling  of  distant  thunder,  heralding  an  approaching 
shower,  reached  the  ears  of  the  company,  and  increased  their 
anxiety  to  gain  some  opening,  at  least,  before  storm  and  dark- 
ness, to  say  nothing  of  their  secret  apprehensions  of  more  ter- 
rible foes,  should  overtake  them.  Casting  an  uneasy  glance 
at  the  lurid  and  threatening  aspect  of  the  heavens.  Captain 
Hendee  applied  the  whip,  and  was  urging  on  his  horses  to  re- 
newed efforts  of  speed,  when  his  arm  was  suddenly  seized  by 
the  convulsive  grasp  of  his  daughter: 

"Stop!  stop!  father!"  she  exclaimed,  in  a  low,  hurried  tone, 
"look  at  Neshobee!  There  is  danger  near  us!" 

All  eyes  were  at  once  directed  towards  the  Indian,  who  was 
now  about  a  dozen  rods  in  front  of  the  carriage.     He  had 


280  THE    GREEN    MOUNTAIN    BOYS. 

turned  rounds  and  with  quick  and  eager  gestures,  was  motion- 
ing tliem  to  halt.  Instantly  reining  up  the  horses,  and  bring- 
ing them  to  a  stand,  the  Captain,  with  the  rest  of  the  com- 
pany, continued,  with  intense  interest  and  alarm,  silently  to 
watch  the  motions  of  the  native,  who  seemed  to  be  still  in  con- 
siderable doubt,  either  of  the  nature  of  the  apprehended  dan- 
ger, or  of  the  exact  point  from  which  it  was  to  proceed.  After 
standing  a  short  time  however  in  the  attitude  of  listening, 
slowly  turning  his  head,  as  his  eyes  w^ere  keenly  searching  the 
woods  around  him,  he  hastily  started  back,  ancl,  pointing  to  a 
dark  thicket  nearly  abreast  of  the  carriage,  leaped  nimbly  be- 
hind a  tree,  and  seemed  awaiting  some  expected  result.  The 
next  moment  the  shrill,  quavering  sounds  of  the  terrific  war- 
whoop,  issuing  from  the  coverts  in  every  direction,  announced 
to  the  appalled  travelers  the  fearful  character  of  the  foe  by 
which  they  were  surrounded.  And  in  another  instant,  a  score 
of  painted  savages  leaped  from  the  bushes,  and  menacingly 
brandishing  their  tomahawks  aloft,  closely  invested  the  car- 
riage. Knowing  it  would  be  utterly  useless  to  attempt  any  re- 
sistance, the  old  veteran  put  up  the  pistols,  which  he  had 
drawn  out  on  the  first  alarm,  and,  while  the  shuddering  fe- 
males, with  a  terrified  glance  at  the  frightful  group  around 
them,  were  burying  their  faces  in  their  hands,  very  coolly  pro- 
ceeded by  signs,  and  such  phrases  as  he  supposed  might  be  un- 
derstood, to  signify  to  his  assailants  that  he  yielded  himself 
and  family  as  prisoners.  The  captors,  having  ordered  out  their 
prisoners  in  the  road,  immediately  fell  to  work  with  their 
knives,  in  cutting  the  harness  from  the  horses,  each  of  which, 
when  releaser],  was  mounted  by  one  of  the  enemy,  and  ridden 
oif  into  the  woods;  while  the  carriage  was  run  into  the  near- 
est thicket  and  concealed.  The  prisoners,  including  Xesho- 
bee,  who,  in  attempting  to  escaj)e,  had  been  seized  and  brought 
in,  were  then  placed  in  Indian  file,  alternately  with  a  sufiicient 
number  of  their  captors  to  guard  the  whole,  and  marched  out 
of  the  road  the  same  way  in  which  their  horses  had  been 
previously  taken,  which  soon  brought  the  company  into  an  old, 
overgrown  path,  leading  through  the  forest  in  a  westerly  direc- 
tion. In  this  manner  our  party  were  urged  forward  at  a  rapid 
pace  for  nearly  an  hour,  during  which,  not  a  word  was  uttered 
by  either  captors  or  captured,  with  the  exception  of  Captain 
Hendee,  whose  irritable  temper  occasionally  broke  out  in  a 
h^lf -suppressed  anathema^  as  he  jarred  a  rheumatic  limb,  while 


^iiE  GREEN  Mountain  boys.  2^1 

liobbling  along  the  rough  and  frequently  obstructed  path.  At 
length,  to  the  great  and  unexpected  joy  of  the  wearied  cap- 
tives, the  cheering  light  of  an  opening  broke  upon  their  view, 
affording  hope  that  the  fatigues,  under  which  they  were  near- 
ly ready  to  sink  were  now  to  be  terminated  for  the  night;  and 
that  they  were  to  be  favored  with  quarters  in  some  kind  of  a 
house,  instead  of  an  unsheltered  bed  of  earth  in  the  wilder- 
ness, as  they  had  anticipated.  The  opening,  consisting  of  thir- 
ty or  forty  acres  of  land,  and  containing  two  small  log  tene- 
ments, with  a  barn  of  similar  construction  attached  to  one  of 
them,  was  situated  along  the  margin  of  a  picturesque  pond,  em- 
bedded in  a  forest  of  majestic  pines.  On  entering  the  clearing, 
Captain  Hendee  instantly  perceived  from  appearances  about 
the  cabins,  that  they  had  reached  the  headquarters  of  the  gang, 
who,  as  he  rightly  concluded,  had  taken  possession  of  the  place 
since  its  desertion  by  the  inhabitants.  His  horses,  that  had  ar- 
rived before  him,  had  been  turned  out;  and  were  nov/  quietly 
grazing  in  the  field;  while  a  large  number  of  the  enemy,  nearly 
equaling  that  of  the  party  who  had  been  engaged  in  the  cap- 
ture, were  scattered  about  the  place,  some  bathing  in  the  pond, 
some  fishing,  some  pitching  quoits,  and  others  lounging  about 
the  buildings.  As  he  approached  this  portion  of  the  enemy, 
the  Captain  soon  noticed  a  difference  in  the  appearance  of 
many  of  them,  as  contrasted  with  that  of  such  of  his  captors 
as  had  come  under  his  inspection,  which  with  his  acquaint- 
ance with  the  peculiar  motions  and  demeanor  of  the  natives, 
immediately  led  him  to  suspect  that  a  considerable  part  of  the 
band,  though  painted  and  habited  like  Indians  were  white 
men  in  disguise.  And  he  now  readily  understood  that  he  was 
indebted  for  his  present  misfortune  to  the  traitor,  Eeming- 
ton,  who,  being  secretly  connected  with  this  band  of  Indians 
and  tories,  had  doubtless  been  employed  by  them  to  bring 
intelligence  of  the  approach  of  such  families  as  should  be  pass- 
ing along  the  road;  though  why  his  own  family  should  have 
been  thus  particularly  marked  for  capture,  while  others  were 
sufi^ered  to  escape,  it  did  not  at  that  time  occur  to  him. 

When  our  party,  with  their  captors,  arrived  at  the  first 
cabin,  which  they  reached  about  dark,  they  were  halted  at  the 
door,  while  a  consultation  was  held  at  some  distance  aloof  be- 
tween two  or  three,  who  appeared  to  have  the  control  of  the 
band;  after  which,  one  of  them  came  forward,  and,  having 
first  caused  Neshobee  to  be  taken  to  the  barn,  motioned  to  the 


282  THE    GREEN    MOUNTAIN    BOYS. 

rest  of  the  prisoners^  except  Miss  Hendee,  who  stood  in  the 
rear,  to  enter  the  honse.  Perceiving  it  was  intended  to  sep- 
arate her  from  her  friends,  the  alarmed  maiden  suddenly  darted 
by  her  immediate  keepers,  and  attempted  to  reach  the  door  at 
Avhich  her  father  at  that  moment  was  entering.  A  rongh  hand, 
however,  was  instantly  extended,  and  grasping  her  arm,  rudely 
pulled  her  back. 

"Kill  me,  if  you  will,"  she  exclaimed,  "kill  me,  but  let  me 
die  with  my  friends." 

"Prisoners  can't  always  be  choosers,  my  proud  one/'  said 
the  apparent  savage  in  good  English. 

"It  is  Darrow!"  said  Alma,  with  blanching  features,  and 
with  a  look  of  alarm,  which  the  brandished  tomahawk  of  the 
Indian  had  failed  to  call  forth.  "I  see  it  all,  and  know  the 
design.  Death  I  fear  not;  but  such  a  fate  I — Oh!  as  you  value 
the  innocence  and  eternal  peace  of  your  daughter,  protect  me, 
my  father." 

Comprehending  the  meaning  of  his  daughter,  and  appreciat- 
ing all  apprehensions,  even  before  she  had  done  speaking, 
the  maddened  father  hastily  drew  a  pistol  from  his  pocket, 
and  discharged  it  full  at  the  head  of  Darrow.  The  bullet 
grazed  the  temple  of  the  astonished  ruffian,  and  his  locks  were 
slightly  singed  by  the  burning  powder;  but  he  escaped  v,dth  no 
other  injury.  Recovering  from  the  shock  of  the  explosion, 
he  hurriedly  pulled  out  one  of  the  heavy  pistols  which  hung 
in  his  belt,  raised  it  to  the  breast  of  his  unflinching  opponent, 
and,  with  the  look  of  a  fiend,  was  in  the  act  of  taking  deliber- 
ate aim,  when  the  heroic  girl,  who  v/as  the  innocent  cause  of 
the  strife,  suddenly  threw  herself  between  her  father  and  the 
weapon  leveled  for  his  destruction.  After  holding  the  deadl}'' 
implement  in  the  same  threatening  position  nearly  a  minute, 
as  if  deliberating  whether  he  would  send  the  bullet  through 
both  father  and  daughter,  for  the  sake  of  wreaking  his  ven- 
geance on  the  former,  the  baulked  villain  with  an  angry  move- 
ment thrust  the  pistol  into  its  place,  and  turning  to  his  men, 
fiercely  exclaimed: 

"Seize  the  damned  old  dotard!  Secure  him,  and  let  him 
wait  for  my  revenge  till  I  have  disposed  of  this  silly  jade.  She 
will  soon  find  out,  I  guess,  what  she  has  gained  by  the  rum- 
pus," he  added,  again  grasj)ing  the  arm  of  his  recoiling  vic- 
tim, and,  regardless  of  her  shrieks,  roughly  dragging  her  off 
to  the  other  cabin;    while,  in  obedience  to  his  orders,  his 


THE   GREEN   MOUNTAIN   BOYS.  283 

painted  minions  proceeded,  with  demoniac  glee,  to  bind  the 
old  gentleman,  and  thrust  him  with  the  rest  of  the  prisoners 
into  the  house.  With  the  assistance  of  his  men,  several  of 
whom  he  ordered  to  attend  him,  Darrow  soon  succeeded  in 
forcing  his  half  senseless  victim  to  the  other  cabin,  situated 
on  the  shore  of  the  pond,  near  the  western  extremity  of  the 
clearing;  when,  opening  the  door,  he  gave  her  a  spiteful  push, 
which  sent  her  reeling  through  the  entrance,  at  the  same 
time  gruffly  exclaiming: 

"There,  madam!  there  are  your  quarters  for  the  present. 
And  let  me  just  inform  your  ladyship,  that  the  less  fuss  you 
make  about  the  matter  the  better  it  will  be  for  you.'^ 

With  this  he  drew  the  door  to  and,  after  posting  a  guard 
round  the  house,  returned  to  the  main  body  of  his  band,  who 
were  now  assembled  round  the  first  mentioned  house,  busily 
engaged  in  cooking  their  suppers  in  the  open  air,  or  patching 
up  the  leaky  roof  of  the  log  barn,  to  protect  those  from  the 
threatened  storm  who  should  be  compelled  to  take  quarters  in 
it,  in  consequence  of  the  arrangement  which  the  leaders  had 
seen  fit  to  make  of  placing  the  prisoners  in  separate  houses. 

After  being  left  alone.  Miss  Hendee  made  an  effort  to  re- 
gain her  compo.sure.  And  having  succeeded  in  a  good  degree, 
she  proceeded,  by  the  dim  twilight  yet  remaining,  to  examine 
the  interior  of  the  house,  containing  but  a  single  room  on  the 
ground  floor.  Three  or  four  old  chairs,  a  rough  pine  table,  and 
a  straw  bed  laid  upon  a  rudely  constructed  bedstead,  with  a 
couple  of  coarse  blankets  for  covering,  constituted  all  the  visi- 
ble furniture  of  the  cabin.  With  these  observations,  she  seated 
herself  in  a  chair,  and  endeavored  to  think  coolly  on  the  novel 
and  alarming  situation  in  which  she  now  found  herself  placed. 
From  Sherwood's  known  connection  with  Darrow,  the  appar- 
ent leader  of  the  present  band,  she  had  but  little  doubt  that 
the  former  was  in  fact  the  commander  of  these  marauders,  or 
at  least  the  instigator  of  the  seizure  of  herself  and  family.  And 
in  either  case,  she  was  at  no  loss  to  understand  that  the  pos- 
session of  her  person  was  the  main,  if  not  the  only  object,  of 
the  present  capture,  l^or  did  she  doubt,  for  similar  reasons,  that 
Sherwood  must  be  near, — probably  already  on  the  ground. 
And  from  the  circumstance  of  her  being  separated  from  her 
friends,  and  confined  alone,  she  felt  but  too  fearfully  certain 
that  a  fate  was  in  reserve  for  her  on  which,  at  the  best  she 
could  hope  for^  she  shuddered  to  think.    After  she  had  re- 


284  THE    GREEN   MOUNTAIN   BOYS. 

mained  in  this  situation  awhile,  listening  to  every  movement 
from  withont,  and  starting  at  the  sound  of  every  footstep,  lest 
it  prove  the  herald  of  a  visit  from  Sherwood,  which  she  now 
every  moment  expected  wonld  be  paid  her,  and  to  which  she 
looked  forward  with  a  dread  that  the  anticipated  presence  of  no 
other  foe  could  impart,  the  door  was  thrown  open,  and  a  man 
unceremoniously  entered.  She  hastily  rose  from  her  seat  and 
threw  a  look  of  alarm  towards  the  intruder.  A  second  glance, 
however,  told  her  that  he  was  not  the  dreaded  visitor,  but  only 
one  of  the  disguised  tories  come  to  bring  her  lights  and  re- 
freshments. Placing  the  torch  which  he  bore  in  the  chimney, 
the  man  silently  advanced,  and  set  a  trencher  of  coarse  food 
on  the  table;  after  which  he  turned,  and  departed,  neither 
questioning  nor  questioned.  Feeling  no  inclination  to  taste 
the  food,  the  hapless  girl  resumed  her  seat,  and  again  gave 
herself  up  to  the  distressing  thoughts  which  her  situation  was 
so  well  calculated  to  inspire.  The  last  gleams  of  twilight  had 
now  faded  away,  and  night  had  fallen  upon  the  earth  with  al- 
most Egyptian  darkness.  There  was  a  low,  rushing  sound 
abroad,  betokening  an  approaching  conflict  of  the  elements. 
The  attention  of  Alma  being  arrested  by  these  renewed  in- 
dications of  the  storm,  which,  for  several  hours,  appeared  to 
have  been  slowly  concentrating  its  forces  in  the  distance,  she 
arose  and  went  to  a  narrow  window,  that  opened  upon  the  dark 
waters  of  the  forest  girt  pond.  The  ominous  sounds  before 
heard  had  given  place  to  the  more  audible  murmurs  of  the 
troubled  air,  which  in  fitful  and  variant  undulations,  now 
moaned  dismally  along  the  ground,  and  now  piped,  in  brief 
and  broken  strains  of  melancholy  music,  among  the  tops  of 
the  neighboring  pines.  Large,  black  masses  of  jagged  clouds 
were  hurrying  through  the  heavens,  which  were  occasionally 
made  visible  by  slight,  quivering  flashes  of  the  electric  fires, 
partially  disclosing  the  broad  outlines  of  the  convolving  vapor 
above,  and  dimly  lighting  up  the  dark  landscape  of  wilds  and 
w^aters  beneath.  Wliile  the  maiden  was  looking  abroad  upon 
this  scene  of  gloomy  magnificence,  which  seemed  strangely  to 
harmonize  with  the  kindred  gloom  of  her  own  sad  and  deso- 
late bosom,  a  bright,  but  far  off  fiash  gleamed  fiercely  athwart 
her  vision.  Turning  her  eyes  to  the  quarter  whence  it  pro- 
ceeded, she  beheld  a  distinct,  attenuated,  and  ribbon-like 
flame  approaching  from  a  distant  part  of  the  horizon,  and  de- 
scribing in  its  apparently  slow,  and. .crinkling  movement,  as  it 


THE    GREEN    MOUNTAIN    BOYS.  285 

came,  an  arch  of  fearful  splendor  across  the  illuminated  heav- 
ens. The  next  instant  it  fell  upon  the  top  of  a  towering  dry 
j)ine,  standing  on  the  opposite  shore  of  the  pond,  and  hurled 
the  hlazing  fragments  of  its  giant  trunk  in  every  direction 
over  the  woods,  and  far  into  the  hissing  and  bujjbling  waters 
around.  A  single  stunning  report  followed,  and  all  without 
was  again  dark  and  silent.  Eecoiling  at  the  shock  of  the  deaf- 
ening concussion,  and  almost  blinded  by  the  intensity  of  the 
flash,  the  astounded  girl  turned  suddenly  from  the  window, 
and  attempted  to  grope  her  way  back  to  her  seat.  Before  reach- 
ing it,  however,  a  slight  noise  within  the  room  arrested  her 
steps.  Pressing  her  hand  upon  her  eyes  an  instant  to  enable 
her  to  discern  the  objects  in  the  dimly  lighted  apartment, 
she  sent  an  apprehensive  glance  towards  the  door,  when  to  her 
unspeakable  disma}^,  she  encountered  the  basilisk  eyes  of  Sher- 
wood, who  was  quietly  standing  within  the  entrance,  and  look- 
ing upon  her  with  an  expression  in  which  guilt,  effrontery, 
and  triumph  w^ere  singularly  blended. 

"Leave  me!^^  she  exclaimed,  as  the  other  now  began  to  ad- 
vance towards  her;  "leave  me,  sir!"  she  repeated  with  all  the 
firmness  and  decision  of  manner  she  could  command,  while 
she  gradually  retreated  to  the  opposite  side  of  the  room. 

"Why  should  I  leave  you,  captious  gir^  he  responded  in 
his  usual  and  affectedly  meek  and  plausible  manner,  "why 
should  I  leave  you,  or  you  desire  it,  when  I  am  the  only  friend 
to  whom  you,  or  your  family,  can  look  for  intercession  with 
those  into  whose  power  you  have  fallen?  Having  heard  of 
your  misfortune,  I  hastened  immediately  to  the  spot,  and  have 
but  this  moment  arrived." 

"Base  dissembler!"  said  Alma,  with  an  indignation  which, 
for  the  instant  seemed  to  overpower  every  other  feeling,  "will 
you  pretend,  sir,  that  these  are  not  all  3^our  doings?" 

"Why — why,  I  admit,"  he  replied,  considerably  disconcerted 
at  the  question  and  pointed  manner  of  the  other,  which  led 
him  to  suppose  that  she  had  by  some  means  received  a  much 
more  certain  knowledge  of  his  connection  with  the  band  than 
she  really  had;  "I  admit  that  these  men  belong  to  a  company 
Avhich  I  have  a  commission  to  command.  But  I  protest,  I 
have  had  nothing  to  do  vdth  your  capture.  And  wdiy  should 
you  always  be  imputing  to  me  the  vrorst  motives  for  every  ac- 
tion I  may  perform?  Here,  noAv,  I  come  to  befriend  and  save 
you;  and  you  receive  me  only  with  insults!" 


286  THE    GREEN    MOUNTAIN    BOYS. 

"I  will  put  the  sincerity  of  your  professions  to  the  test,  sir/' 
promptly  rejoined  the  other.  "If  you  really  came  to  befriend 
me  and  have  the  power,  as  you  admit,  let  me  go  instantly  to 
my  father  and  friends.'^ 

"Why  the  time  has  arrived,  it  strikes  me,  when  I  am  under 
no  very  particular  necessity  of  being  fui'ther  dictated,'^  sneer- 
ingly  replied  the  villain,  now  throwing  off  the  mask,  which 
he  perceived  was  serving  him  but  little  purpose.  "I  have  a 
certain  condition  to  propose,  and  when  you  comply  wdth  that, 
neither  you  nor  your  family  are  longer  prisoners.^' 

The  heart  of  the  wretched  girl  sunk  within  her,  but  she 
made  no  reply. 

"You  have  not  forgotten  probably,"  resumed  the  other, 
"our  late  interview^  when  I  proposed  the  fulfillment  of  a  long 
settled  engagement. — Well,  if  you  have,  I  have  not,  nor  the 
manner  in  which  my  overtures  were  then  treated.  But  not- 
withstanding all  the  scorn  and  abuse  I  have  received  both  from 
you  and  your  father,  I  still  feel  disposed  to  allow  you  a  chance 
to  fulfill  that  engagement,  which,  as  a  prisoner,  and  in  my  pow- 
er, is  more  than  you  could  reasonably  expect.  I  am  still  will- 
ing to  make  you  my  legal  wife;  but  it  must  be  done  on  the 
spot.  I  have  a  clergyman  within  call  to  perforin  the  ceremony. 
Will  you  consent?" 

"Never!"  replied  the  indignant  and  yet  unconquered  girl. 
"What!  consent  under  such  circumstances — under  the  menaces 
here  held  forth,  and  the  feelings  here  exhibited  ? — I  would  as 
soon  unite  myself  to  a  fiend!  consent  to  such  a  mockery,  in- 
tended only  to  disguise  violence  and  outrage,  iinder  the  sacred 
rite  of  marriage?  N'ever!  While  death  can  be  my  alternative, 
0,  never!" 

"But  supposing  death  can  not  be  your  alternative,  you 
foolish  girl?"  said  the  miscreant  suitor  in  a  taunting  tone: 
"You  w411  do  well,  perhaps,  to  bear  in  mind  that  your  person 
is  already  in  my  power;  and  that  I  am  the  one  to  name  your 
alternative.  And  I  shall  name  one,  too,  in  Avhich  I  shall  be 
likely  to  dispense  wdth  the  services  of  the  parson." 

"Monster!"  exclaimed  the  aroused  maiden,  with  an  energy 
which  insulted  virtue  alone  could  have  excited,  "begone  with 
your  polluting  presence,  lest  the  thunders  of  Heaven,  which 
are  now  angrily  rolling  over  our  heads,  strike  you  to  the  earth 
in  vengeance  for  your  meditated  villainies!" 

With  all  the  innate  baseness  and  disguised  effrontery  of  his 


THE    GREEN    MOUNTAIN    BOYS.  287 

nature,  Sherwood  could  not  help  quailing  under  the  wither- 
ing scorn  and  almost  unearthly  majesty  which  accompanied 
this  bold  rebuke;  and  unable  to  summon  the  hardihood  to  pro- 
ceed any  further  at  present,  he  turned  towards  the  door,  mut- 
tering as  he  went: 

"AVell,  we  will  soon  see  who  is  to  be  balked  this  time!  Two 
hours,"  he  added,  pausing  at  the  threshold  and  looking  back, 
without,  however,  venturing  to  raise  his  eyes  to  the  face  of  the 
other,  who  still  stood  fearlessly  confronting  him, — "just  two 
hours  shall  be  allowed  you  to  conclude  which  of  the  tw^o  al- 
ternatives you  vvdll  embrace,  and  in  making  up  your  mind,  you 
may  as  well  take  into  consideration,  that  your  father  at- 
tempted the  life  of  my  lieutenant,  who  will  require  such  an  in- 
ducement as  I  alone  can  ofter  him,  to  make  him  relinquish  his 
purpose  of  revenge." 

After  the  first  glad  and  grateful  sensations  of  relief,  which 
came  over  the  feelings  of  our  heroine  on  being  freed  from  the 
dreadful  presence  of  her  relentless  persecutor,  had  passed 
away,  all  the  moral  energy,  that  had  sustained  her  through 
her  fearful  trial,  forsook  her,  while,  with  it,  her  over-strained 
nerves,  which  so  powerful  an  excitem_ent  had  braced  for  the 
exigency,  gave  way;  and  weak,  exhausted,  and  despairing,  she 
tottered  across  the  room  and  throwing  herself  upon  the  miser- 
able pallet,  yielded  herself  up,  for  a  while,  to  the  dread  cer- 
tainties of  a  fate,  which  now  even  ever-flattering  hope  could 
suggest  no  way  of  escaping.  For  her  family  she  felt  no  great 
apprehensions  of  any  fate  much  more  severe  than  that  which 
usually  falls  to  the  lot  of  ordinary  prisoners;  since  the  present 
contest,  as  she  was  aware,  had  so  far  been  conducted,  wherever 
the  Indians  had  been  employed,  on  altogether  different  prin- 
ciples from  the  preceding  wars  in  this  country.  And  content- 
ing themselves  with  plunder,  the  savages  had  generally,  on 
making  prisoners,  delivered  them  over  unharmed  to  their  white 
allies,  when  such  only  as  had  been  found  in  arms  were  re- 
tained, while  the  rest,  especially  females  and  the  young  and 
aged,  were  soon  dismissed  for  their  homes.  'Nov  could  she  be- 
lieve that  either  Darrow  or  Sherwood  really  intended  as  they 
had  threatened,  to  make  her  father  an  exception  for  an  act 
which,  however  hasty  it  might  have  been,  had  resulted  in  no 
injury.  But  all  these  considerations  could,  in  her  present  pe- 
culiar situation,  be  of  no  avail  to  herself.  An  immediate  es- 
cape, or  some  sudden  rescue,  were  apparently  the  only  raerns 

19 


288  THE   GREEN   MOUNTAIN    BOYS. 

of  snatching  lier  from  the  impending  doom.  And  yet  how 
were  either  of  these  to  be  effected?  Any  attempt  to  get  from 
the  housC;,  guarded  as  it  was  by  posted  sentries^  the  sound  of 
whose  footsteps  frequently  reached  her  ear,  she  knew  would  be 
utterly  useless.  Equally  futile  also  must  be  the  hope  of  any 
rescue  till  long  after  her  fate  would  be  decided.  No  other  re- 
source, therefore,  remained  to  her  but  to  face  the  danger,  as 
terrible  as  it  was  to  her,  even  in  the  least  abhorrent  of  the  al- 
ternatives which  had  been  set  before  her,  and  persevere  in  the 
determination  she  had  already  announced  of  resistance  unto 
death.  And  she  earnestly  besought  the  great  Protector  of  the 
innocent  and  injured  to  arm  her  with  strength  and  fortitude 
to  meet  the  coming  trial,  or  interfere,  in  his  mercy,  to  save  her 
from  its  terrors  and  perils. 

While  the  mind  of  the  almost  frantic  girl  was  thus  pain- 
fully engrossed,  as  she  was  reclining  on  the  bed  with  her  face 
buried  in  the  clothes,  a  noise,  differing  from  any  thing  she  had 
before  heard,  and  proceeding  from  some  point  above,  but 
seemingly  neither  exactly  within  nor  without  the  building, 
had  several  times  reached  her  ear.  And  now  it  became  too 
distinct  not  to  attract  her  particular  notice.  Startled,  though 
as  yet  not  seriously  alarmed,  she  hastily  rose  and  endeavored 
to  ascertain  the  nature  of  the  sounds  that  had  disturbed  her. 
The  rain,  which  had  now  for  some  time  been  heavily  pouring 
to  the  earth,  had  extinguished  the  fire,  and  while  utter  dark- 
ness pervaded  the  room,  nothing  was  to  be  heard  but  the  cease- 
less roar  of  the  descending  torrents.  At  length,  however,  the 
noise  was  repeated.  It  appeared  to  proceed  from  the  Hue  of 
the  chimney,  down  which,  it  soon  became  evident,  that  some 
thing  possessing  life  and  motion,  was  slowly  and  cautiously 
descending  into  the  room;  but  whether  it  was  a  man,  or  wild 
beast,  she  was  unable  to  determine.  Presently  the  mysterious 
object  seemed  tc  reach  the  hearth.  And,  in  a  short  time,  the 
dark  outlines  of  a  seemingly  shapeless  figure  became  discern- 
ible to  the  perplexed,  and  now  thoroughly  frightened  maiden. 
Her  excited  imagination  instantly  took  wing,  and  in  the  be- 
wilderment of  the  moment,  the  motionless  object  swelled  into 
a  ferocious  monster,  preparing  to  clutch  her  in  his  horrid  em- 
brace. A  strange  feeling  of  undefined  fear  and  dread  took  pos- 
session of  her  bosom,  and  seemed  to  paralyze  all  her  faculties. 
She  tried  to  speak,  but  could  after  no  sound — to  move,  but 
her  limbs  refused  to  do  their  office,  while  a  peculiar,  cold. 


THE   GREEN   MOUNTAIN   BOYS.       '  289 

curdling  sensation,  commencing  with  the  crown  of  her  head, 
settled  over  her,  converting  her  whole  system  into  a  helpless, 
inanimate,  and  frozen  mass,  alike  incapable  of  thought  and  ac- 
tion. At  that  instant  a  vivid  flash  of  lightning  lit  np  the  room 
with  the  brightness  of  the  noon-day's  sun,  and  broke  the  spell 
that  had  so  strangely  enthralled  her  senses:  for,  equally  to  her 
joy  and  surprise,  she  beheld,  in  the  object  of  her  alarm,  no 
other  than  her  faithful  friend  Neshobee,  who,  uncertain 
whether  the  room  might  not  contain  some  of  the  enemy  as 
well  as  his  mistress,  whom  he  knew  to  be  confined  here,  had 
squatted  in  the  fire  place,  after  his  descent,  with  the  view  of 
ascertaining  the  fact  before  he  should  speak  or  advance. 

"Umph?'^  uttered  the  Indian,  apparently  nearly  as  much 
relieved  as  his  mistress,  at  the  mutual  disclosure.  "Missus 
Alma  speak  very  no  loud,"  he  continued,  in  a  half  whisper,  as 
he  glided  noiselessly  forward  to  her  side,  and  laid  his  hand  on 
her  arm  in  token  of  caution.  "Them  three  tory,  what  stand 
for  watch,  all  gone  fore  side  for  get  out  of  the  rain,  and  so  no 
see,  N'eshobee  climb  up  back  side  and  come  down  chimney. 
But  Missus  talk  soft,  them  stand  close  up  side,  hark  um,  hear 
um,  catch  um  Neshobee.'^ 

"How  fares  it  with  my  father  and  the  girls — are  they  still 
in  the  other  house,  and  yet  unharmed?"  eagerly  whispered 
Alma. 

"All  um  there.  Them  tory  and  Indian  all  in  the  barn  when 
the  rain  come.  Leak  down,  make  um  jump,  crowd  thick,  so 
no  see  Neshobee  creep  away.  Me  go  back  side  tother  house, 
peep  through  crack,  see  um  there  when  flash  come  bright. 
Cappen  hands  all  tie  tight.  Him  look  sorry.  Three  tother 
girls  lay  on  straw  in  corner — cry  much — all  look  very  scare." 

"And  v/hat  is  to  become  of  us,  N'eshobee?"  asked  Alma, 
mournfully,  as  she  brushed  away  a  tear,  elicited  by  the  Indian's 
brief  but  graphic  and  touching  description  of  the  situation  of 
her  friends. 

"Neshobee  no  get  in  there  for  help  Cappen  and  them.  But 
me  help  Missus  Alma  up  chimney,  get  out  and  they  no  hear 
so  long  the  rain  pour  hard." 

"No,  no,  Neshobee,  it  is  impossible,"  replied  Alma,  after 
reflecting  a  moment  on  the  proposal  of  her  friend,  who  had 
run  such  risks  to  rescue  her.  Could  I  succeed  in  getting  out 
upon  the  house,  my  light  dress,  if  nothing  else,  would  betray 
\is  to  tb.e  guards,  and  we  should  both  be  taken,  And  even  could 


290  THE   GREEN    MOUNTAIN   BOYS. 

I  escape,  how  could  I  withstand  an  exposure  all  night  in  the 
woods  to  this  dreadful  storm?  No,  Neshobee,  leave  me  to  my 
fate,  which  will  probably  be  decided  long  before  you  can  be 
the  means  of  our  rescue.  But  my  poor  father  and  the  girls 
you  may  perhaps  be  instrumental  in  saving.  Then  go,  Nesho- 
bee.  —  If  you  succeed  in  escaping  from  this  place,  proceed 
directly  to  our  army  at  Ticonderoga,  and  tell  them  that  we  are 
prisoners  to  Sherwood  and  Darrow,  with  a  band  of  tories  and 
Indians.  Tell  Colonel  Warrington,  or  Captain  Selden,  that 
father's  life  is  threatened — that  I — 0,  heavens!  but  let  my 
situation  be  passed  over.  And  should  they  send  a  force  to  de- 
liver us,  as  I  knov^  they  will,  you  can  guide  it  to  the  spot.  iSTow 
don't  hesitate  to  leave  me,  my  faithful  friend, — to  leave  me  to 
the  care  of  Heaven,"  she  added,  laying  her  hand  on  the  other's 
shoulder  and  gently  pushing  him  towards  the  avenue  by  which 
he  descended  into  the  room.  ^^Don't  delay  an  instant.  Go, 
and  I  will  ask  the  blessing  of  a  good  Providence  to  speed  you 
on  your  way." 

"Me  go,"  laconically  responded  the  native,  vanishing  from 
the  sight  of  his  mistress  in  the  darkness,  and  silently  ascend- 
ing the  chimney. 

After  anxiously  listening  a  few  moments  to  the  cautious 
egress  of  her  messenger,  and  satisfying  herself  that  he  had 
reached  the  ground,  and  escaped  undiscovered,  the  unhappy 
girl  once  more  returned  to  her  homely  couch, — not  there, 
however,  to  find  repose  or  any  alleviation  of  the  woes  that  so 
deeply  oppressed  her  feelings.  The  distracting  apprehensions, 
from  which  her  mind  had  been  in  some  measure  diverted  by 
the  presence  of  her  humble  friend,  now,  on  his  departure,  re- 
turned with  ten-fold  force  to  her  mind.  And  a  feeling  of 
utter  loneliness  and  desolation  took  possession  of  her  despond- 
ing bosom.  Conscious  that  the  time  set  by  Sherwood  for  his 
return,  to  execute  one  of  the  dreadful  alternatives  with  which 
he  had  brutally  menaced  her,  was  now  nearly  at  hand,  and  her 
feelings  becoming,  at  the  maddening  thought  too  intense  to 
permit  her  to  remain  longer  quiet,  she  arose,  and  again  took 
her  station  at  the  little  window.  The  storm  cloud  still  girt 
darkly  and  heavily  the  whole  visible  horizon;  and  the  ele- 
ments were  in  fearful  commotion.  The  howling  of  the  blast, 
as  it  swept  over  the  vexed  wilderness,  attended  by  the  crash 
of  falling  trees,  the  deep,  but  varying  roar  of  the  deluging 
torrents  of  wind-driven  rain,  and  loud  over  all;  the  terrific 


THE  GREEN  MOUNTAIN  BOYS.         ^91 

peals  of  bursting  thunder^  preceded  by  flashes  of  lightning 
that  seemed  to  envelop  earth  and  heaven  in  a  blaze,  came 
mingling  on  the  senses  in  awful  tumult.  And  yet  the  scene, 
as  awful  as  it  was,  and  would  have  been  to  her  under  ordi- 
nary circumstances,  had  no  terrors  for  the  wretched  captive 
now; — nay,  as  the  forked  lightnings  were  leaping  from  cloud 
to  cloud,  and  darting  to  the  earth  in  terrific  gambols  around 
her,  she  felt  a  strange  pleasure  in  their  fearful  proximity. 
And,  regarding  them  as  the  instruments  of  Heaven,  which 
might,  perhaps,  be  commissioned  for  her  deliverance,  she 
often,  during  that  dreadful  hour,  under  the  wild  impulses  of 
maidenly  terror  and  despair,  with  which  the  recurring 
thoughts  of  her  situation  filled  her,  involuntarily  stretched 
forth  her  hand  towards  the  deeply  charged  clouds,  as  if  to 
invoke  the  fatal  shaft  to  descend,  and  snatch  her  from  a  doom 
to  which  death  was  a  boon  of  mercy.  But  that  Heaven  to 
which  she  was  looking  to  relieve  her  thus,  had  reserved  her 
for  another  fate:  the  storm  rolled  heavily  away,  and  left  her 
beauteous  form  unscathed.  The  rain  at  length  ceased;  and 
the  lightnings,  as  they  played  along  the  black  parapet  of 
clouds,  that  lay  piled  in  the  east,  shone  with  less  dazzling 
fierceness,  and  only  to  show  the  ravages  which  the  tempest 
had  left  behind.  As  mute  and  desponding,  the  lovely  cap- 
tive stood  with  her  eyes  still  vacantly  riveted  on  the  receding 
storm,  she,  during  the  continuance  of  a  bright  and  lingering 
flash  of  lightning,  cast  her  eye  obliquely  towards  the  quar- 
ters of  her  enemies,  when  she  caught  a  glimpse  of  a  man  pick- 
ing his  way  along  the  half-flooded  path  leading  to  her  cabin 
whom  she  instantly  recognized  to  be  the  dreaded  Sherwood. 
A  deadly  sickness  came  over  her,  her  brain  begun  to  whirl, 
and  she  sunk  senseless  on  the  floor. 


292  THE   GREEN   MOUNTAIN   BOYS. 


CHAPTEE   XI. 


'For  freedom's  battle  once  begun, 
Bequeathed  from  bleeding  sire  to  son. 
Though,  baffled  oft,  is  ever  won." 


While  the  incidents  last  described  were  transpiring,  an 
event  occurred,  which  spread  consternation  and  alarm  over 
all  the  neighboring  country.  This  was  the  unexpected  evacu- 
ation of  the  important  fortress  of  Ticonderoga,  to  which  the 
xVmericans  seemed  to  have  confidently  looked  as  a  barrier 
which  was  to  interpose  an  effectual  check  to  the  further  prog- 
ress of  Burgoyne  in  that  quarter.  But  whatever  may  have 
been  said  of  the  remissness  of  General  St.  Clair,  in  suffering 
the  enemy  to  gain  those  advantages  which  compelled  him, 
for  the  salvation  of  his  army,  to  evacuate  that  post,  and  what- 
ever disasters  were  immediately  occasioned  by  the  movement, 
the  final  consequences  Avhich  resulted  from  the  event,  proved 
highly  auspicious  to  the  American  arms:  For  while  it  in- 
spired the  British  General  with  an  undue  confidence  of  suc- 
cess, and  caused  him  to  push  rashly  into  the  heart  of  the  coun- 
try, it  at  once  aroused  the  Americans  from  the  apathy,  \nth 
which  they  seemed  to  have  viewed  the  approach  of  the  in- 
vading army,  and  kindled  up  the  flagging  spirit  of  patriotism 
to  a  pitch  of  enthusiasm  that  soon  brought  the  rallying  bands 
of  the  hardy  yeomen  of  the  north  to  the  post  of  danger,  and 
led  to  that  series  of  brilliant  achievements  which  terminated 
in  the  entire  overthrow  of  this  formidable  array  of  British 
power. 

Scarcely  had  St.  Clair  succeeded,  under  cover  of  darkness, 
in  reaching  the  eastern  shore  of  the  lake,  and  getting  his  army 
in  motion  for  the  interior,  before  an  active  pursuit  was  com- 
menced by  General  Frazier,  with  a  large  detachment  of  British 
regulars,  followed  by  General  licidesel  with  most  of  the 
Brunswick  forces.  The  Americans,  however,  kept  some  miles 
in  advance  of  the  enemy  through  the  day;  and  St.  Clair,  with 
the  main  body  of  his  troops,  pushed  forward  that  night  as  far 


THE    GREEN   MOUNTAIN    BOYS.         ^  293 

as  Castleton,  leaving  the  rear  guard  of  the  army,  consisting 
of  about  a  thousand  men  under  the  command  of  Colonel  AVar- 
rington  on  the  road  some  distance  behind,  where  he  encamped 
at  a  farm  house  within  three  miles  of  the  place  which  was 
the  same  night  occupied  by  the  lawless  gang  of  Sherwood  and 
their  unfortunate  captives,  all  parties  being  equally  .ignorant 
of  their  vicinity  to  each  other. 

With  this  glance  at  the  situation  of  our  army,  with  whose 
movements  were  more  or  less  closely  linked  the  destinies  of 
all  those  whose  individual  fortunes  we  have  undertaken  to 
follow,  we  will  now  go  on  with  our  tale,  which  the  crowding 
events  of  the  next  twenty-four  hours  were  destined  to  bring- 
to  its  catastro^^he.  And  leaving  our  fair  and  persecuted  cap- 
tive in  the  happy  state  of  insensibility,  in  which  we  last  de- 
scribed her,  we  will  now  follow  her  trusty  messenger  on  his 
adventurous  way  to  the  American  army,  which  both  he  and 
his  mistress  supposed  was  still  posted  at  Ticonderoga,  some 
twenty  miles  distant. 

Happily  succeeding  in  leaving  the  cabin  and  gaining  an 
adjoining  field,  undiscovered  by  the  guards,  Neshobee,  after 
stopping  a  moment  to  pitch  his  course,  plunged  directly  into 
the  tangled  and  dripping  wilderness  lying  along  the  northern 
borders  of  the  pond.  Pausing  at  every  considerable  interval 
of  darkness,  that  still  almost  impenetrably  shrouded  the 
earth,  and  darting  forward  by  the  views  which  the  fast  flash- 
ing lightning  afforded,  he  threaded  the  difficult  mazes  of  the 
forest  with  a  rapidity  rarely  attainable  by  any  but  natives  of 
the  wilds.  Passing  round  the  western  extremity  of  the  pond, 
and  bending  his  course  in  a  more  southerly  direction,  an 
hour's  traveling  brought  him  to  the  great  military  road  lead- 
ing directly  to  the  lake.  The  storm  having  now  ceased,  he 
hastily  stripped  olf  his  drenched  garments,  wrung  out  the 
water  to  enable  him  to  run  with  more  expedition,  reinvested 
himself,  and  again  set  off  at  a  long  trot  down  the  road  to- 
wards his  supposed  destination.  It  was  to  be  his  fortune, 
however,  to  travel  but  a  short  part  of  the  distance  for  which 
he  had  prepared  himself:  For,  after  proceeding  about  a  mile 
along  the  now  unobstructed  way  with  a  speed  to  which  his 
feverish  anxiety  lent  wings,  he  came  to  a  large  opening,  which 
presented  the  unexpected  appearance  of  numerous  dimly- 
burning  fires  scattered  through  an  extensive  field.  Stopping 
short  at  a  spectacle  so  unusual  under  the  present  circum- 


2H  THE   GEEBN   MOUNTAIN   BOYS. 

stances^  the  cautious  native  immediately  put  his  ear  to  the 
earth,  and  listened  long  and  intently.  A  low,  mingled  hum, 
as  of  a  hushed  and  reposing  multitude,  rose  in  a  scarce  per- 
ceptible murmur  on  the  air;  and  soon  the  slight  jar  of  meas- 
ured footsteps,  resembling  the  distant  tread  of  slowly-pacing 
sentinels,  became  distinguishable  to  his  acute  senses.  No 
longer  doubting  the  presence  of  an  encamped  army  in  the 
opening,  but  whoU}^  ignorant  of  its  character,  he  cautiously 
crept  forward,  rising,  from  time  to  time,  to  discover,  if  possi- 
ble, without  exposing  himself,  whether  it  was  a  friendly  or 
hostile  force,  which  he  had  thus  unexpectedly  encountered. 
Keeping  within  the  range  of  a  stump,  or  some  object  by  the 
road-side,  to  screen  his  approach,  he  crawled  along  about  a 
dozen  rods,  and  again  paused  for  a  more  careful  observation. 
The  clouds  were  now  rapidly  breaking  away,  and  in  the  in- 
creasing light,  he  was  soon  enabled  to  trace  the  outlines  of  a 
sentry,  standing  motionless  as  a  post  in  the  middle  of  the 
road,  but  a  few  rods  ahead.  While  he  thus  lay,  tasking  his 
vision  to  discover  something  in  the  dress,  arms,  or  appear- 
ance of  the  man,  from  which  the  fact  he  sought  to  know 
might  be  inferred,  the  waning  moon  shone  out  through  the 
parting  clouds,  and  disclosed  to  the  startled  Indian  the  Brit- 
ish uniform  of  the  sentry,  and  at  the  same  time  the  numerous 
tents  of  the  enemy  dotting  the  fields  in  the  distance  beyond. 
The  first  thought  of  ISTeshobee,  on  making  this  alarming  dis- 
covery, was  to  secure  a  retreat  from  this  dangerous  vicinity 
to  the  sentinel,  though  he  was  wholly  at  a  loss  what  course 
he  should  now  take  to  find  those  to  whom  he  had  been  de- 
spatched for  succor.  But  his  doubts  in  this  respect  were  set 
at  rest  by  information  he  the  next  moment  obtained  from 
an  unexpected  quarter:  For,  while  he  lay  anxiously  watch- 
ing a  cloud  that  was  nearing  the  moon,  and  promised  in  a 
few  moments  again  to  obscure  her  light,  which  now  made  it 
hazardous  for  him  to  move  from  his  position,  a  soldier  ap- 
proached to  relieve  the  one  on  guard. 

"AVell,  Tom,"  said  the  soldier  just  arrived,  ^''you  have  had 
a  devil  of  a  drenching  this  bout,  haven't  you?  Why!  what! 
has  the  man  turned  to  stone?  Say,  Tom,  why  don't  you  an- 
swer me?" 

"0,  yes,  yes,"  replied  the  other,  arousing  himself  from  his 
stupor,  "yes,  wet  enough— a  ghastly  time  I've  had  of  it,  Jerry, 
since  I've  been  out  here.     Hang  me,  if  I  haven't  got   quite 


THE   GREEN   MOUNTAIN   BOYS.  ,  295 

enough  of  this  chasing  the  Yankees  into  the  bush.  I  wish 
'twas  over.    But  do  you  know  the  orders  for  to-morrow?" 

'^'Why  to  chase  the  d — -n'd  rebels  till  we  take  them^  be  sure. 
Our  Captain  has  just  returned  from  General  Frazier's  quar- 
ters, and  he  says  they  have  a  sort  of  go-between,  by  the  name 
of  Eemington,  who  came  directly  from  the  Yankee  camp, 
and  broug-lit  word  that  the  main  body  of  the  rebels  have  got 
about  ten  miles  ahead,  while  a  regiment  or  two,  under  a  Col- 
onel AYarrington,  are  encamped  within  a  league  of  us  on  the 
road.  And  the  plan  is,  I  believe,  to  move  on,  at  daylight,  to 
the  attack  of  the  nearest  force.  And  if  the  main  body  return 
to  the  rescue,  why,  we  have  G-eneral  Eeidesel,  with  a  plenty 
of  Hessians,  a  few  miles  behind,  to  back  us;  so  very  likely 
we  may  get  a  tolerable  bush  fight  of  it,  before  it  is  over,  par- 
ticularly as  this  Warrington,  they  say,  is  a  fellow  of  grit; 
and  his  men  are  mostly  Green  Mountain  Boys,  who  have 
more  of  the  regular-built  bull-dog  about  'em,  than  anything 
the  Yankees  have  got  in  their  ragamuffin  army." 

"Well,  Jerry,"  replied  the  other,  in  accents  partaking  some- 
what of  the  doleful,  "I  can't  exactly  tell  how  'tis,  but  if  we 
do  have  a  battle,  I  have  a  notion  I  shan't  live  through  it." 

"Why,  what  makes  you  think  so,  Tom?" 

"0,  I  don't  know — I  feel  it  creeping  over  me,  and  that 
ain't  all,  I  am  very  sartain — 'deed  I  could  swear  to  it — that  I 
saw  a  shape  out  there  in  the  road  yonder,  a  little  while  ago, 
that  rose  right  up  out  of  the  ground,  and  then  stood  kinder 
quivering  a  minute,  and  vanished.  I  exj)ect  it  was  my  spirit^ 
Jerry." 

"Pooh!  man,  your  liver  must  have  got  water-soaked  here 
in  the  rain,  to  make  you  down  in  the  mouth  about  such 
whimsies.  Here,  take  a  suck  at  my  canteen.  There!  now 
back  to  your  tent,  your  pluck  will  be  up  by  morning." 

Animated  by  the  cheering  intelligence  he  had  gathered 
from  the  conversation  above  detailed,  every  word  of  which 
had  reached  his  attentive  ears,  the  native  slowly  and  noise- 
lessly withdrew  from  the  spot  in  the  now  favoring  darkness, 
till  fairly  beyond  the  sight  and  hearing  of  the  guard;  when 
he  began  rapidly  to  retrace  his  steps  along  the  road  towards 
the  American  encampment,  to  which  we  will  now  repair  in 
anticipation  of  his  arrival. 

It  was  a  calm  and  cloudless  morning  that  ushered  in  the 
day  so  long  remembered  in  Yermont  for  the  sanguinary  con- 


296  THE    GREEN    MOUNTAIN    BOYS. 

ilict  of  Hubbardton,  which  proved  so  destructive  to  the  boast- 
ful and  haughty  foe,  while  it  widely  scattered  the  weeds  of 
woe  throughout  her  infant  settlement.*  The  sun  had  just 
burst  over  the  long  range  of  eastern  mountains,  whose  broad, 
empurpled  sides  lay  looming  in  the  distance,  and  a  thousand 
sparkling  exhalations  were  rising  from  the  storm-beaten  en- 
campment of  the  Green  Mountain  Boys.  Though  deeply 
worn  and  fatigued  by  the  forced  march  of  the  previous  day, 
and  drenched  to  the  skin  through  the  night,  yet  the  troops 
were  already  in  motion,  eagerly  engaged  in  preparing  them- 
selves for  whatever  emergency  might  follow,  and  while  hastily 
snatching  their  morning's  repast,  many  an  eye  was  turned 
anxiously  towards  the  quarters  of  their  gallant  commander, 
where  it  was  understood  a  council  of  war  was  being  held,  to 
determine  whether  to  continue  their  flight  after  the  main 
army  or  remain  to  give  battle  to  the  pursuing  enemy.  At 
length  the  officers  were  seen  emerging  from  the  quarters  in 
question,  and  with  quickened  steps  returning  to  their  re- 
spective corps,  while  the  increased  activity  which  succeeded 
throughout  the  camp  indicated  the  importance  of  the  result 
now  communicated. 

"Well,  Captain  Selden,"  said  Warrington,  as  rousing  him- 
self from  the  reverie  into  which  he  had  fallen  after  the  coun- 
cil had  broken  up,  he  looked  around  and  observed  that  his 
confidential  friend  now  remained  with  him  in  the  apartment, 
"what  do  you  think  of  the  argument  of  Hale,  and  those  who 
so  strenuously  opposed  our  proposition  of  making  a  stand 
against  the  enemy?'* 

*  There  was  no  engagement  in  our  Revolution,  perhaps,  which 
exhibited  such  determined  energy  and  resolution  on  the  part  oi:. 
the  Amjericans,  as  the  battle  of  Hubbardton;  and  yet  there  was 
no  one,  of  which  the  results  are  more  obscurely  or  incorrectly 
stated  by  our  leading  historians — most  of  them  making  our  loss 
from  200  to  300,  and  that  of  the  British  from  100  to  200.  But  if 
they  had  reversed  the  statement  they  would  not  even  then  have 
done  justice  to  our  gallant  troops.  Ethan  Allen,  in  his  narrative, 
says:  "Our  loss  was  about  30  killed,  and  that  of  the  enemy 
amounted  to  300  killed,  including  a  Major  Grant.  The  enemy's 
loss  I  learned  from  the  confession  of  their  own  officers  when  a 
prisoner  among  them.  I  heard  them  likewise  complain  that  the 
Green  Mountain  Boys  'took  sight.'  "  After  a  diligent  inquiry  I  am 
satisfied  that  Colonel  Allen's  statement  is  substantially  a  correct 
one. 


THE   GREEN   MOtJNTAlK   BOYS.         •  297 

'^Qiiite  as  well  of  tlieir  arguments  as  their  patriotism^  Col- 
onel/'  promptly  answered  the  person  addressed.  '^"Shakes- 
j)eare  never  better  evinced  his  knowledge  of  the  human  heart 
than  when  he  put  into  the  mouth  of  one  of  his  secretly  cra- 
ven boasters  the  salvo  argument  that  *^discretion  is  the  better 
part  of  valor.' '' 

'"The  inference  is  a  sharp  one^  Captain,  but  I  fear  me,  too 
well  deserved.  There  was  one  thing,  however,  which  grati- 
fied me:  not  a  single  officer  from  the  Green  Mountains  op- 
posed the  proposition.  And  it  is  so  with  the  troops  of  my 
regiment.  I  was  out  among  them  this  morning  by  daylight 
to  gather  their  feelings  on  this  subject;  and,  though  the  poor 
fellows  were  wet,  weary,  and  war-worn,  I  found  our  Green 
Mountain  Boys  universally  burning  for  the  encounter.'' 

"There  is  no  doubt  of  it.  But  after  all,  Colonel,  I  fear  these 
/^preachers  of  prudence  were  prophesying  by  instinct,  when 
they  told  us  we  had  a  bloody  day's  work  before  us.  The 
force  we  are  sure  to  encounter  is,  perhaps,  more  than  double 
our  own;  and  we  know  not  how  many  more  are  on  their  way 
to  reinforce  them." 

"I  am  aAvare  of  all  this.  But  as  soldiers  can  we  longer  en- 
dure the  thought  of  being  driven  before  the  foe? — as  citizens 
and  settlers  of  these  our  mountain  homes,  can  we  see  the 
enemy  marching  into  the  heart  of  our  country,  and  strike  no 
blow  for  its  protection?  As  little  as  the  people  expected  our 
evacuation  of  Ticonderoga,  much  less  will  they  expect  us  to 
continue  a  flight  which  will  soon  leave  the  whole  settlement 
exposed  to  the  ravages  of  the  merciless  minions  of  Burgoyne. 
With  my  own  regiment  alone,  I  can  make  a  successful  stand 
against  the  force  which  immediately  menaces  us  with  an  at- 
tack; and  if  more  arrive,  the  reinforcements  which  St.  Clair 
will  surely  send  us,  when  our  express  shall  reach  him,  will  be 
in  season  for  the  rescue." 

"Gen.  St.  Clair  may  send  us  a  reinforcement,  but — " 

"May?  he  must!  And  if  he  does,  and  will  send  another 
force  round  the  rear  to  cut  off  the  enemy's  retreat,  they  are 
all  ours  before  sunset.  Think  you  Ethan  Allen  would  be  found 
longer  skulking  before  the  foe,  or,  if  in  St.  Clair's  command, 
would  suffer  a  man  of  them  to  return  to  the  lake  alive,  or  un- 
captured?" 

"Never!  but  Ethan  Allen  is  not  our  general.  And  the 
man  who  suffered  the  enemy  to  get  possession  of  every  com- 


298  THE    GREEN    MOUNTAIN    BOYS. 

man  ding  post  round  Ticonderoga  till  we  had  good  reason  to 
evacuate^  may  still,  like  some  of  his  humble  imitators  in  our 
council  just  now,  think  it  prudent  to  take  care  of  himself, 
and  leave  us  to  do  the  same/' 

At  this  moment  the  sergeant  of  the  guard  entered  the  door. 

"ColoneV  said  he,  ^Sve  have  taken  a  prisoner  this  morn- 
ing, who  came  from  the  direction  of  the  enemy;  and  though 
he  professes  fair,  and  pretends  business  with  you,  yet  having 
no  pass,  or  papers  of  any  kind,  and  refusing. to  give  any  fur- 
ther account  of  himself,  we  have  kept  him  under  guard,  till 
we  thought  you  might  have  leisure  to  examine  him." 

"What  is  he, — -a  British  soldier?" 

"No — an  Indian,  or  part  Indian,  I  should  think." 

"Bring  him  here,  instantly,"  said  Warrington,  with  an  ex- 
pression of  interest. 

The  sergeant  accordingly  left  the  apartment,  and  in  a  few 
moments  returned  with  Neshobee  by  his  side,  when,  upon  an 
intimation  from  his  superior,  he  withdrew,  leaving  his  pris- 
oner and  the  two  officers  by  themselves. 

"Neshobee,  my  good  fellow,"  exclaimed  Warrington,  ad- 
vancing to  the  native,  and  shaking  him  cordially  by  the  hand. 
"I  hope  they  have  not  misused  you;  but  how  came  you  here?" 

"Me  come  for  purpose  find  you.    Missus  Alma — " 

"Alma  Hendee!  where  is  she?"  eagerly  interrupted  the  Col- 
onel. 

The  Indian  then  related  to  his  astonished  auditors,  in  his 
peculiar  manner,  the  particulars  of  the  capture  of  the  Hen- 
dee  family,  and  all  of  the  subsequent  occurrences  which  had 
come  to  his  knowledge  till  he  reached  the  American  encamp- 
ment. 

"Execrable  villain!"  exclaimed  Warrington,  with  unusual 
bitterness,  after  a  few  questions  and  answers  respecting  the 
number  and  equipment  of  Sherwood's  gang  had  been  rapidly 
exchanged  between  the  excited  officers  and  the  native,  "exe- 
crable villain!   but  his  triumph  shall  be  a  short  one!" 

"God  grant  it!"  responded  Selden  with  the  same  spirit, 
"but  what  do  you  propose.  Colonel?" 

"To  proceed  instantly  to  their  camp,  storm  it,  and  rescue 
the  captives  within  this  hour — if  possible,  within  this  very 
hour!" 

"And  you  are  willing  to  risk,  even  at  this  emergency,  the 
absence  of  men  enough  to  accomplish  it?'^ 


THE    GREEN   MOUNTAIN    BOYS.  299 

*^I  must,- — as  much  as  we  may  need  them,  I  must  risk  it. 
And  would  to  God,  that  my  duties  would  permit  me  to  head 
them  against  this  farrago  of  fiends  incarnate.  Will  you  per- 
form the  service.  Captain  Selden?" 

^^Most  joyfully." 

"Go  then.  Take  your  company,  including  Jones  and  as 
many  of  his  scouts  as  you  think  best.  If  you  succeed,  furnish 
the  family  with  an  escort  to  a  place  of  safety,  or  hring  them 
to  the  rear  of  the  army,  as  circumstances  shall  dictate. — Stay, 
Selden,  a  moment,"  he  continued  approaching  the  side  of  the 
spirited  and  impatient  young  officer,  and  speaking  in  a  low 
confidential  tone,  "I  am  well  aware  that  this  may  be  a  day  of 
danger — of  death  to  many  of  us — Tell  that  lovely  girl  her 
frank  and  noble  explanation,  has  been  received  and  appreciated 
— that  my  heart  has  ever  been,  and  is  now  doubly  hers — that 
if  I  survive,  I  will  soon  be  by  her  side,  and  if  I  fall,  my  last 
thoughts  will  be  upon  her." 

At  that  instant  the  quickly  successive  reports  of  a  dozen 
muskets  in  the  direction  of  the  expected  enemy  broke  the  still- 
ness of  the  morning,  announcing  a  collision  between  the  op- 
j)osing  outposts,  and  the  battle  at  hand. 

"To  arms!"  exclaimed  the  commander,  rushing  out  into  the 
open  air,  and  leaping  upon  his  charger  that,  caparisoned  and 
ready  for  his  gallant  rider,  stood  impatiently  pawing  the 
ground  at  the  door,  "to  arms,  instantly  to  arms!" 

As  the  loud  and  thrilling  tones  of  the  well  known  voice 
ot  their  idolized  leader  rung  through  the  camp,  falling  upon 
the  ears  of  the  aroused  and  excited  troops,  every  man  sprang 
for  his  musket,  and  the  busy  quiet,  that  one  moment  before 
had  reigned  through  the  tented  lines,  was  at  once  changed  into 
the  noisy  din  of  preparation.  Captain  Selden,  in  accordance 
with  the  arrangement  just  settled  between  him  and  his  super- 
ior, hastily  formed  his  company,  briefly  informed  his  men  of 
the  object  of  their  proposed  expedition,  and  amidst  the  clangor 
of  rattling  steel  and  rolling  drums,  mingled  with  the  stern, 
brief  words  of  command,  filed  off  rapidly  across  the  field  to- 
wards the  northern  forest,  and,  with  Feshobee  as  guide,  soon 
disappeared  within  its  borders. 

Let  us  now  return  to  the  captured.  The  first  object  that 
saluted  the  eyes  of  our  hapless  heroine,  on  recovering  her  con- 
sciousness, was  the  dimly  seen  figure  of  Sherwood  standing 
in  the  doorway,  in  the  attitude  of  one  whose  attention  on 


300  THE    GREEN    MOUNTAIN    BOYS. 

entering  had  been  suddenly  arrested  by  some  unexpected  sigbt 
or  sound  behind  him.  Tlie  next  instant  a  man  on  horseback 
came  dashing  up  furiously  to  tlie  spot.  Hastily  closing  the 
door  behind  him^  Sherwood  immediately  advanced  to  the  side 
of  the  halted  horseman;  when  the  following  dialogue  dis- 
tinctly reached  the  ears  of  the  eager  listener  within. 

"Captain   Sherwood — ain't  it?'' 

"Yes — Eemington,  I  believe^  from  the  voice? — Well,  what 
news  ?" 

"Important — great — glorious!" 

"Aha,  what  is  it?'' 

"The  rebels  have  evacuated  Ti.l" 

"The  devil!   and  all  escaped?" 

"Every  scoundrel  of  them,  but  their  race  is  nearly  up." 

"A¥hy?    How?    Where  are  they?" 

"St.  Clair,  mth  the  bulk  of  them,  made  shift  to  push  on 
to  Castleton  by  dark, — Warrington  with  a  regiment  or  two, 
now  lies  encamped  at  Seleck's  farm  right  against  us  over  on 
the  military  road.  Gen.  Frazier,  who  followed  hard  on  their 
tracks  through  the  day,  lies  at  Lacy's  Camp,  with  his  brigade; 
and  Eed  Hazle  and  his  Jarmans  are  but  a  few  miles  be- 
hind." 

"And  what  is  Frazier 's  plan?" 

"To  move  upon  Warrington  at  daylight;  and  he  told  me  to 
tell  you  to  be  on  hand  when  the  attack  is  made, — flank  the 
rebels  in  the  woods,  and  keep  on  ahead  of  them  to  cut  off 
their  retreat.  But  the  order  needn't  interfere  with  your  busi- 
ness here,"  added  the  traitor,  with  a  knowing  chuckle,  point- 
ing towards  the  house  with  one  hand,  and  giving  his  master 
a  significant  nudge  with  the  other: — There's  no  need  of  your 
marching  before  break  of  day;  so  you  see  you'll  have  time 
to—" 

"Hush!    speak  lower,  you  prying  devil, — she'll  hear  you." 

"Well,  w^ell;  but  what  is  to  be  my  share  for  this  night's 
job?" 

"British  gold, — Burgoyne  will  see  to  that." 

"Yes,  I  know  that;  but  I  mean  what  share  of  the  same  kind 
of  coin  that  you  are  about  to  make  free  with? — You  under- 
stand me,  hey?" 

"That's  asking  more  than  you  have  any  right  to  expect, 
Eemington." 

"The  hell  is  it!   I  know  there  is  game  to  be  had^  and  if  L 


THE    GREEN    MOUNTAIN    BOYS.  3Q1 

can't  have  my  sliare^  when  my  betters  are  helping  themselves^ 
ril  know  the  reason  why,  by — " 

"Yes,  bnt  don't  get  in  a  passion  abont  it:  Something  of  the 
kind  may  be  effected  for  yon,  perhaps.  The  Scotch  girl  is 
promised  to  Darrow;  but  there  are  two  maids.  It  can  be 
managed,  possibly — '' 

"To-night?'' 

"Why, — why,  not  very  conveniently — if  yon  will  delay  till 

to-m.orrow  night but  hnsh!    hnsh!    who  is  that? — who  is 

that  coming  in  snch  haste?" — hnrriedly  exclaimed  Sherwood, 
as  startled  by  the  sound  of  rapidly  approaching  footsteps,  he 
looked  round  and  distinguished  the  figure  of  some  one  hastily 
making  his  way  towards  them. 

"It  is  the  lieutenant's  gait,"  observed  Eemington,  whose 
situation  on  his  horse  enabled  him  best  to  determine  the  point 
in  question.     "And  it  is  Darrow,  too,  ain't  it?" 

"Yes,  I  am  the  chap,"  responded  the  ruffian,  striding  up  to 
the  spot.  "AYhere  is  the  Captain  ? — 0  here !  Jake,  the  devil  is 
to  pay!" 

"What  is  the  matter?"  eagerly  asked  Sherwood. 

"Why,  it  may  be  matter  enough  for  us  soon,  if  what  Eem- 
ington here  says  about  the  rebels  being  so  near  us  is  true — 
Hendee's  cursed  Indian  has  escaped!" 

"Hell  and  furies!     Bill,  who  suffered  that?" 

"The  lubberly  curse  that  you  set  to  guard  the  red  scamp  in 
the  corner  of  the  barn  got  asleep,  I  s'pose;  and  the  confusion 
and  crowding  caused  by  the  storm  prevented  any  one  else  from 
seeing  to  it." 

"How  long  has  he  been  gone?" 

"These  two  hours,  for  aught  I  can  ascertain." 

"Did  you  see  any  thing  that  could  be  taken  for  the  imp^  on 
your  route,  Eemington?" 

"Ko,  Captain.  As  soon  as  I  found  that  the  rebels  were  on 
the  road,  I  rode  several  miles  round  in  by-roads,  to  reach  the 
British  camp." 

"Well,  Darrow,  we  must  move,"  said  Sherwood,  after  musing 
a  moment;  "I  know  that  fellow  well.  He  will  know  what  to 
do  without  being  told,  and  v/ill  be  as  cunning  as  Satan  in 
bringing  it  about.  In  beating  about  for  help  to  rescue  the 
family,  he  will  learn  Yfarrington's  position,  which  ten  to  one 
he  has  reached  before  this.  You,  as  well  as  I,  can  guess  what 
will  come  next.    Within  an  hour,  a  hundred  of  Warrington's 


302  THE   GREEN   MOUNTAIN   BOYS. 

bull  dogs  may  be  upon  us^  with  ambuscades  in  every  direction 
around  us.  We  must  march,  and  that  instantly.  Our  private 
plans.  Bill,  must  be  deferred  till  another  night.  And,  by  that 
time,  I  am  thinking,  there  wont  be  enough  left  of  the  damned 
scoundrel,  or  his  men,  to  trouble  us.  We  will  take  to  the  hill 
on  the  south  end  of  the  pond  yonder.  The  moon  is  coming 
out;  and  this  breeze  will  shake  the  water  from  the  trees,  so 
that  we  can  make  our  way  comfortably.  Go  forward,  Dar- 
row,  and  be  mustering  the  men.  Eemington,  let  me  mount 
that  horse,  till  we  enter  the  woods.  Guards!  ho!  you  may 
close  up  round  the  house  now,  and  in  a  few  moments  we  will 
relieve  you  of  your  charge.'^ 

If  ever  an  offering  of  unfeigned,  unmingled  gratitude  as- 
cended to  Heaven  from  the  lips  of  mortals  for  boon  bestowed, 
it  was  that  of  Alma  Hendee,  as  on  bended  knees  she  poured 
out  the  incense  of  her  gushing  and  grateful  heart  to  her 
divine  Preserver  for  this  temporary  deliverance  from  the  perils 
that  so  nearly  threatened  her.  She  had  scarcely  risen  from  her 
devotions,  when  a  messenger  from  Sherwood's  quarters  en- 
tered and  summoned  her  to  attend  him  to  the  other  cabin.  She 
obeyed  with  cheerful  alacrity  and,  in  a  few  moments  more,  was 
in  the  silent  embrace  of  her  friends,  receiving  the  low  mur- 
mured caresses  and  blessings  of  her  overjoyed  father,  on  whose 
bosom  she  lay  sobbing  till  interrupted  by  the  stern,  harsh 
voice  of  Darrow  at  the  door,  commanding  them  all  to  come 
forth,  to  be  taken  with  the  band  in  the  movement  which  had 
been  so  hastil}^  concerted  by  the  alarmed  leaders! 

On  emerging  from  the  house  the  prisoners  found  the  entire 
band  of  their  captors  drawn  up  in  the  yard,  waiting  only  to 
receive  them  before  commencing  the  contemplated  march. 
And,  after  the  former  had  been  ordered  to  take  their  places 
near  the  center  of  the  line,  separated  from  each  other  by  the 
alternate  intermingling  of  guards  as  on  the  afternoon's  marcli, 
the  whole  moved  silently  forward  across  the  pasture  in  the 
direction  previously  mentioned  by  their  leader.  AA^ien  they 
arrived  at  the  outskirts  of  the  clearing,  Sherwood  relinquished 
the  horse,  upon  which  he  had  thus  far  superintended  the 
march,  to  liemington,  and  after  sending  off  the  latter  on  some 
secret  destination,  took  his  station  at  the  head  of  the  forces, 
and  plunged  directly  into  the  forest.  After  many  windings 
through  the  pathless  and  still  dripping  woods,  for  the  purpose 
of  confusing  or  misleading  their  enemies,  in  any  attempts 


THE    GREEN    MOUNTAIN    BOYS.  S03 

which  might  be  made  to  follow  the  trail,  they  bore  down  upon 
the  pond,  and  soon  struck  into  an  old  Indian  path  nmning 
along  the  margin  of  the  water  towards  the  south.  In  this 
they  slowly  pursued  their  dark,  and  often  difficult  way,  till 
day-light;  when  arriving  at  the  southern  extremity  of  the 
pond,  and  being  here,  as  they  believed,  out  of  the  reach  of  any 
immediate  danger  from  pursuit,  they  withdrew  a  short  dis- 
tance from  the  vicinity  of  the  water,  and  halted  to  wait  the 
operations  of  the  hostile  armies,  being  now  within  a  short  dis- 
tance of  the  clearing  in  which  the  action  was  expected  to  take 
place. 

After  scouts  had  been  dispatched  to  watch  the  movements 
of  Warrington's  forces,  and  some  time  spent  in  inspecting 
their  arms,  and  preparing  them  for  instant  service,  the  band, 
at  the  intimation  of  their  leaders,  proceeded  to  partake  of  a 
hasty  repast,  consisting  mostly  of  bread  and  dried  meats,  which 
each  produced  from  his  own  knapsack,  with  the  exception  of 
the  ofhcers  and  caj)tives,  for  the  supplying  of  whom  one  of 
Cap+iin  Hendee's  horses,  loaded  with  provisions  and  tent- 
cloths,  had  followed  in  the  rear.  A  scanty  portion  of  this  kind 
of  food,  with  a  gourd-shell  of  Avater,  was,  after  a  while,  sent 
to  the  faint  and  wearied  prisoners  by  Sherwood,  who  seemed 
studiously  to  avoid  coming  himself  into  their  immediate  pres- 
ence. The  meal  was  partaken  by  the  captives  in  gloomy 
silence,  which,  except  here  and  there  in  the  ribald  jest  of  a 
tory,  or  the  low  guttural  grunt  of  a*  savage,  Avas  imitated  by 
the  mongrel  gang  of  ferocious  and  brutal*  looking  fellows 
around  them. 

Scarcely  had  they  finished  their  homely  repast,  when  a  rat- 
tling peal  of  distant  musketry,  followed  by  the  sound  of  roll- 
ing drums  furiously  beating  to  arms,  came  booming  through 
the  forest,  awakening  the  echoes  of  hill  and  dell  for  miles 
around,  and  startling  both  captives  and  captors  by  the  sound, 
now  well  understood  by  all  as  the  herald  of  the  approaching 
conflict. 

"To  the  hills!  forward  to  a  station  on  the  hills!"  loudly 
shouted  Sherwood,  now  for  the  first  time  openly  exercising  the 
command  in  the  presence  of  the  prisoners. 

Hastily  forming  a  line  of  march,  Sherwood,  with  quick  and 
eager  steps  led  his  men  up  the  ragged  steeps  towards  his  pro- 
posed station,  leaving  the  brutal  Darrow,  who  had  charge  of 
the  rear,  in  which  the  captives  were  now  placed^  to  goad  on 

20 


304  THE    GREEN    MOUNTAIN    BOYS. 

tlie  infirin  old  captain,  and  the  tender  and  already  exhausted 
females,  to  keep  pace  with  the  rest.  After  a  rapid  and  fatigu- 
ing march  of  half  an  honr,  at  almost  every  step  of  which  the 
forest  around  them  was  resounding  to  the  roar  of  thickening 
conflict  on  the  plains  to  the  right,  they  reached  the  summit 
of  a  wood-covered  hill,  which  overlooked  the  extensive  open- 
ing to  the  west,  now  occupied  as  the  scene  of  action  by  the 
contending  armies.  Immediately  detaching  about  a  dozen  of 
his  most  trusty  tories  with  Darrow  at  their  head  to  guard  the 
prisoners,  Sherwood,  with  the  remainder  of  his  force,  proceeded 
some  forty  or  fifty  rods  down  the  hill,  and  took  his  station 
in  the  bushes  bordering  the  opening,  to  wait  a  favorable  op- 
portunity to  co-operate  with  his  British  friends.  The  guard, 
on  the  departure  of  Sherwood,  wishing  to  take  a  stand  them- 
selves where  they  could  witness  the  battle,  ordered  the  cap- 
tives forward  to  the  brow  of  the  hill,  and  permitted  them 
to  take  seats  upon  the  edge  of  a  cliff  which  afforded 
them,  through  the  openings  of  the  overhanging  foliage, 
a  distinct  view  of  the  field  of  conflict.  A  grand  and  thrill- 
ing spectacle  now  burst  upon  their  view.  At  the  distance 
of  less  than  a  mile,  in  the  broad  field  beneath  them,  stood  the 
plain  and  hardy  sons  of  liberty,  unflinchingly  engaged  face 
to  face,  and  often  arm  to  arm,  in  deadly  strife  with  the  gorge- 
ous and  disciplined  bands  of  their  outnumbering  foes, — the 
fluttering  standards  and  glittering  arms  of  wheeling  squad- 
rons now  flasliing  in  the  morning  sun,  and  now  enveloped  in 
clouds  of  eddying  smoke,  as  the  fires  of  a  thousand  death- 
tubes  blazed  fiercely  along  the  opposing  lines;  while  hill  and 
forest  around  seemed  rocking  responsive  to  the  deafening 
thunders  of  the  embattled  plain.  With  an  interest  equally  in- 
tense, but  with  emotions  widely  different,  was  the  scene  wit- 
nessed by  the  little  group  of  captives:  for  while  Alma  and 
Jessy  gazed  in  silent  awe  upon  the  fearful  spectacle,  trem- 
bling and  amazed  at  the  tremendous  din  that  rose  from  the 
spot,  and  Avith  bosoms  painfully  beating  with  secret  anxiety 
for  the  fate  of  their  betrothed  lovers,  engaged,  as  they  be- 
lieved, in  the  hottest  of  the  strife,  and  exposed  every  instant 
to  the  missiles  of  death,  or  already  weltering  in  their  gore 
among  the  dying,  and  dead, — while,  with  such  agitating  emo- 
tions gazed  they  upon  the  scene.  Captain  Hendee  watched  the 
progress  of  the  contest  with  the  experienced  eye  of  a  soldier, 
and  with  a  view  to  its  general  results.    For  nearly  an  hour  the 


THE    GREEN   MOUNTAIN    BOYS.  305 

battle  raged  witli  unmitigated  fury.  Alternately  driving  and 
driven,  the  contending  foes,  without  any  permanent  ad- 
vantage to  either,  fiercely  disputed  for  the  mastery  of  the  field; 
while  volley  after  volley,  bursting  in  rapid  succession  along 
the  serried  lines  of  the  opposing  fronts  continued  to  sweep 
the  plain  with  the  leaden  tempest,  covering  it  with  heaps  of 
the  dying  and  the  dead.  At  length  there  was  a  momentary 
lull  in  the  din  of  battle.  Even  the  '^^stormy  music"  of  the 
shriek-drowning  drum  for  an  instant  ceased  to  send  up  its 
monotonous  roar  from  the  field  of  conflict.  And  all  beneath 
the  broad  and  veiling  cloud  of  smoke,  that  hung  over  the 
spot,  at  first  seemed  as  silent  as  if  that  cloud  had  been  a  pall 
for  an  army  of  the  dead.  The  next  moment,  however,  a 
sound  reached  the  quick  ears  of  the  female  captives,  more 
fearful  than  the  thunders  of  battle. 

"List!  w^hat  is  that?"  asked  the  girls,  with  a  simultaneous 
exclamation,  and  looks  of  horror,  as  the  piercing  and  mingled 
wail  of  many  voices  came  wafting  on  the  breeze  with  awful 
distinctness  to  the  ear.  "Oh,  father,  what  dreadful  sound  is 
that?"  repeated  Alma,  with  a  shudder. 

The  old  gentleman,  whose  less  acute  organs  had  not  been 
affected  by  the  sound,  without  replying,  turned  an  ear  to- 
wards the  fatal  field.  The  same  hideous,  though  low  and  dis- 
tance-mellowed screech,  came  up  again  from  the  spot  with  the 
succeeding  undulation  of  the  fitful  breeze,  but  was  the  next 
instant  lost  in  a  fresh  burst  of  martial  music,  which  once  more 
sent  its  swelling  roar  over  the  surrounding  hills. 

"It  is  the  cries  of  the  wounded!"  said  the  Captain,  turn- 
ing to  his  unheeding  auditors,  for  they  sat  with  their  hands 
tightly  pressed  upon  their  ears  to  exclude  the  abhorrent  sound. 
"But  it  is  over — it  is  over  now,"  he  continued,  motioning  them 
to  withdraw  their  hands. 

Understanding  the  gesture  rather  than  the  words,  the  girls 
hesitatingly  unstopped  their  ears,  and  turned  a  mute  and 
startled  look  of  inquiry  upon  the  Captain. 

"It  was  the  groans  of  the  wounded,"  resumed  the  Captain. 
"It  is,  indeed,  a  dreadful  sound  to  one  not  inured  to  the  hor- 
rors of  war.  The  first  time  I  ever  heard  it,  I  well  remember, 
it  made  my  hair  rise  upright  on  my  head,  and  filled  me  with 
more  terror  and  dread  than  the  bullets  of  the  enemy.  But 
it  does  not  often  occur,  and  should  never,  as  it  dish'^ar'tens  the 
men;  vet  it  will  some  times  happen,  when  some  sudden  change 

20 


806  THE   GREEN   MOUNTAIN   BOYS. 

in  the  order  of  battle  is  taking  place  on  both  sides  at  the  same 
moment." 

*'^And  do  you  suspect  any  important  change  is  about  to 
take  place  in  the  present  battle,  father?'^  anxiously  inquired 
Alma. 

"I  do,  child.  I  can  perceive  there  is  a  movement  going  on 
among  our  troops.  There!  do  you  see  that  officer  dashing  at 
full  speed  along  the  lines,  as  he  occasionally  appears  in  the 
openings  of  the  hfting  smoke?  He  is  rallying  and  forming 
for  a  fresh  onset,  and  is  probably  the  chief  in  command,  who 
you  understood  was  to  be " 

*'It  is!  it  is  he!'^  exclaimed  Alma,  with  trembling  eager- 
ness. "Yes,  it  is  he,  and  yet  spared,  thank  Heaven!^'  she 
added,  checking  herself,  and  sinking  her  voice  into  an  almost 
inaudible  whisper,  "but  oh!  the  perils  which  the  next  mo- 
ment may  surround  him!"  and  she  buried  her  face  in  her 
hands  to  conceal  her  emotion. 

"Well,  whether  Warrington  or  another,"  observed  the  Cap- 
tain, "the  officer  in  command  there  is  winning  glory  for  him- 
self and  his  country.  I  have  never  seen  a  defense  against 
a  superior  force  conducted  with  more  abihty  than  he  has 
displayed,  nor  a  field  disputed  with  more  determined  intre- 
pidity than  this  by  the  men  under  Mm;  at  least  by  all  those 
who  have  yet  engaged.  But  there  is  one  battalion  standing 
aloof  by  the  copse,  yonder,  whose  movements  I  neither  un- 
derstand nor  like.    I  wonder  who  they  are  ?" 

"That  is  Colonel  Hale's  regiment,"  said  a  voice  from  the 
rear,  "We  have  no  great  fears  of  him,  or  his  men;  but  them 
dare-devils  in  the  thickest  of  it,  there,  are  G-reen  Mountain 
Boys,  and  Fll  own — but  theyVe  got  to  knuckle  soon,  for 
Eed  Hazle  can't  now  be  more  than  a  mile  or  so  off,  and 
then " 

The  Captain  turned  his  head,  and  beheld  in  the  speaker  the 
traitor  Eemington,  who  had  arrived  unperceived,  and  now 
stood  unblushingly,  and  with  a  malicious  and  exulting  leer, 
looking  him  in  the  face.  The  double-faced  villain,  however, 
was  met  by  the  old  veteran  with  such  a  withering  look  of  scorn 
and  contempt,  as  caused  him  to  pause  in  his  remarks,  and 
soon  to  slink  away  behind  the  guards. 

Muttering  a  few  deep  and  bitter  curses  upon  the  object  of 
his  ayersion,  on  whom  he  looked  as  the  despicable  instru- 


THE    GREEN    MOUNTAIN    BOYS.  307 

ment  of  his  present  misfortunes^  Captain  Hendee  again  turned 
to  watcli  the  progress  of  the  battle. 

"Keep  your  eyes  on  the  field,  girls/'  said  the  old  gentle- 
man, after  closely  scanning  the  appearance  of  the  belligerent 
forces  a  moment.  "They  are  evidently  on  the  eve  of  some 
important  evolution.  There!  see  there!  there  goes  the  fire 
of  our  whole  line  upon  them  in  a  single  blaze!  Ah!  that  fire 
must  have  told  dreadfully  on  the  enemy!''  he  continued,  with 
an  exulting  air,  while  waiting  for  the  dispersion  of  the  smoke, 
that,  curling  its  wavy  folds  over  the  American  lines,  at  this 
terrible  volley,  concealed  for  an  instant  both  them  and  their 
foes  completely  from  view.  "Yes,  dreadfully,  as  they  ac- 
knowledge, by  not  returning  the  fire.  There,  you  can  just 
see  their  scarlet  lines  now, — and  in  confusion! — staggering 
and  recoiling  in  confusion,  as  I  live!  And,  by  Jupiter!  see! 
how  like  lightning  the  black  masses  of  the  continentals  are 
throwing  themselves  into  columns!  They  charge!  they 
charge!  Heavens!  what  a  clash  of  encountering  steel — but 
no  wavering  in  the  charging  column  yet!  On  they  move! 
And,  by  the  Lord  of  Heavens!  the  red-coats  give  way  before 
them!  They  reel — break,  and  run, — yes,  see!  see!  the  poor 
beaten  devils  are  fairly  taking  to  their  heels!  ha!  ha!  Hur- 
rah for  the  Green  Mountain  Boys!  ha!  ha!  ha!  ha!"  And 
the  excited  old  veteran,  breaking  the  restraint  which  his  sit- 
uation, as  a  closely  guarded  prisoner,  had  imposed,  leaped 
up,  and  clapped  his  hands  in  gleeful  exultation. 

"Stop  that  d n'd  old  fool's  gab!"  shouted  the  nettled 

and  chafing  Harrow,  who,  having  taken  a  separate  station 
in  the  bushes,  some  rods  distant,  stood  deeply  absorbed  in  the 
movements  of  the  field,  when  the  old  gentleman's  exclama- 
tions reached  his  ears:  "stop  his  gab,  I  say!  or  spit  him  on 
your  bayonet,  and  hurl  him  over  the  cliff.  Hell!  Here,  let 
me  come — I  may  as  well  have  my  revenge  now  as  ever!" 

As  with  angry  growls  Harrow  was  hastening  through  the 
bushes  to  the  s^^ot,  the  nearest  guard  brought  down  his  piece, 
and  drew  back  for  a  thrust  at  the  Captain  with  his  bayonet; 
but  in  the  act,  he  suddenly  started,  dropped  his  musket,  gave 
a  convulsive  screech,  sallied  back,  and  was  on  his  way  to  the 
earth,  when  the  sharp  and  stunning  report  of  a  dozen  rifles, 
from  the  back  of  the  hill,  burst  upon  the  ears  of  the  startled 
captives,  and  their  no  less  astonished  captors,  who,  in  their 


308  THE   GREEN   MOUNTAIN   BOYS. 

eagerness  to  see  the  action,  had  neglected  to  keep  watch 
against  a  surprise  from  pursuing  enemies  from  the  woods. 

"There!  take  that,  damn  joiiV  exclaimed  Darrow,  as,  more 
intent  on  accomplishing  his  meditated  revenge  than  attempt- 
ing a  defense,  he  sprang  forward,  the  instant  he  perceived 
himself  attacked,  within  a  rod  of  the  captives,  discharged  his 
pistol  at  Captain  Hendee,  and,  without  v^aiting  to  see  the  ef- 
fect of  his  shot,  which  his  eager  haste  had  luckil}^  rendered 
a  vain  one,  jumped  off  the  cliff,  and,  venturously  leaping  from 
shelf  to  shelf  down  the  precipice,  disappeared  in  the  direction 
of  Sherwood^s  station  at  the  foot  of  the  hill. 

The  surviving  tories,  for  four  of  them  had  heen  stretched 
lifeless  upon  the  earth,  hj  the  shot  of  their  assailants,  dis- 
charged their  guns  at  random  towards  the  covert  of  their  yet 
unseen  foes,  and  fled  along  the  cliff  to  the  south,  to  gain  the 
gorge  where  Sherwood  and  his  party  had  descended.  But 
they  were  a  moment  too  late  to  effect  their  object.  The 
movement  having  been  perceived  by  Selden's  party,  for,  as 
the  reader  has  doubtless  alread}^  anticipated,  the  assailants 
were  no  other — the}^  suddenly  closed  up  that  end  of  their  line, 
and  cut  off  the  retreat  of  the  fugitives,  who,  quickly  tacking 
about,  commenced  their  flight  back  towards  the  captives,  with 
the  view  of  escaping  along  the  ledge  to  the  north  of  them. 

"Aha!  je  scampering  satans,  3^ou  can't  go  that  this  time!'*' 
exclaimed  the  sharp  and  rattling  voice  of  Pete  Jones,  who, 
with  a  dozen  sturdy  fellows  at  his  heels,  at  that  instant  burst 
through  the  bushes,  and  came  down  like  a  whirlwind  upon 
the  baffled  tories,  in  time  to  prevent  them  from  gaining  the 
thicket  in  the  rear  of  the  captives — "spread  out,  there,  boys, 
and  be  ready  to  give  'em  the  lead  at  the  word,"  continued  the 
scout,  motioning  to  his  men,  who  promptly  compl3dng,  cocked 
their  rifles,  and  throwing  themselves  into  a  half  circle,  con- 
tinued with  hasty  steps  to  advance  upon  the  affrighted 
wretches,  now  standing  huddled  together  on  the  brink  of  the 
precipice,  and  looking  wildl}^  around  them  for  some  chance 
to  escape. 

"Now,  ye  painted  devils,"  resumed  Jones,  still  drawing  up 
with  leveled  rifle,  "now  you  have  got  to  jump,  or  take  it." 

Misunderstanding  the  real  intentions  of  the  scout,  which 
were  to  frighten,  and  then  give  quarters,  and  expecting  to  be 
shot  down  the  next  instant,  the  tories  threw  down  their  guns, 
and  with  one  consent,  plunged  madly  from  the  cliff! 


THE    GREEN    MOUNTAIN    BOYS.  *  309 

"Blood  and  bayonets!  who  would  have  tlionght  that?'^  ex- 
claimed the  woodsman,  in  tones  of  mingled  horror  and  sur- 
prise, as  he  stepped  up  and  peered  over  the  brink,  from  which, 
down  a  broken,  but  nearly  perpendicular  descent  of  over 
an  hundred  feet,  this  desperate  leap  had  been  taken.  "Now 
I'll  be  blamed,  if  it  don't  make  me  feel  ugly.  Only  see  'em 
there!"  he  continued,  gazing  down  upon  the  mangled 
wretches  at  the  foot  of  the  precipice,  with  an  expression  of 
the  deepest  commiseration,  "only  see!  three  or  four  lay  there 
in  a  heap,  panting  and  quivering  at  the  last  gasp !  And  there's 
the  rest,  just  crawling  off  into  the  bushes  like  snakes  with 
their  backs  broke!  Howsomever,"  he  added,  turning  away 
with  an  effort  to  shake  off  the  feeling,  "we  can't  very  well 
afford  the  poor  devils  a  great  deal  of  lament,  for  the  same 
sarce  would  have  been  ours,  if  we'd  fell  into  the  hands  of  their 
sort  of  cattle,  jest  as  sure  as  tory  is  their  name,  and  infarnal 
their  nater.'^ 

In  the  meanwhile,  Selden,  followed  by  the  rest  of  his  com- 
pany, had  reached  the  spot;  and  the  former  having  flown  to 
the  side  of  his  overjoyed  Jessy  and  her  friends,  the  now 
liberated  captives,  was  exchanging  those  hasty  and  heartfelt 
greetings,  which  the  circumstances  were  so  well  calculated  to 
call  forth,  when  a  new  and  startling  war-cry  rose  from  the 
thicket  below,  where  he  had  just  learned  from  his  rescued 
friends  that  Sherwood  with  the  main  part  of  his  band  was 
posted. 

"Do  you  hear  that,  my  brave  fellows?"  exclaimed  the  young 
officer  in  a  tone  that  rung  through  the  forest,  as  he  burst 
from  the  group  of  his  embracing  friends,  and,  with  a  look  of 
kindling  enthusiasm,  leaped  forward  towards  his  men,  "do 
you  hear  that  rall^dng  shout  below!  But  let  them  come!  The 
red-coats  are  flying  in  confusion  before  our  friends  in  yonder 
field.  Let  their  scurvy  minions  here  in  the  bush  be  taught  the 
same  lesson.    Every  man  to  his  post!" 

Eesponding  with  hearty  and  reiterated  cheers  to  the  words 
of  their  gallant  leader,  the  men  flew  to  their  stations  along 
the  ridge  to  await  the  approach  of  their  foes,  who  were  now 
evidently  rallying  for  a  rescue. 

At  this  instant  a  shower  of  bullets  struck  the  crags  at  the 
very  feet  of  the  captives. 

"Jones,  your  assistance!"  shouted  Selden,  rushing  back  to 
the  group  who  had  thus  narrowly  escaped  death,  and  point- 


310  THE    GREEN    MOUNTAIN    BOYS. 

ing  him  to  Alma,  as  he  himself  grasped  his  own  affianced  girl 
in  liis  arms,  and  with  raj^id  steps  bore  her  back,  nestling  and 
trembling  on  his  bosom,  to  a  place  of  temporary  safety  over 
the  screening  ridge  in  the  rear. 

Comprehending  the  other  at  a  glance,  the  scout  bounded 
forward  to  the  side  of  Miss  Hendee,  at  that  instant  engaged 
in  trying  to  qniet  the  alarms  of  her  less  self-possessed  do- 
mestic, when,  concluding  to  give  the  order  of  his  superior  its 
most  liberal  construction,  he  gave  a  swoop  with  his  long  arms, 
andj  gathering  both  mistress  and  maid  in  his  grasp,  and  lift- 
ing them  high  from  the  ground,  bore  them,  blushing  through 
their  alarms,  at  their  novel  situation  aloft,  over  the  hill,  oc- 
casionally pausing  in  his  monstrous  strides  over  rock  and  log, 
to  give  a  wink  to  Neshobee  to  follow  his  example  with  Zilpah, 
the  only  female  now  left  on  the  spot  of  danger. 

"Guess  you  catch  um  first,^^  tartly  observed  the  yellow 
maiden  eluding  the  hesitating  grasp  of  her  bashful  gallant, 
and  darting  forward  like  an  arrow  towards  her  friends. 

"AVhere  is  my  father?"  inc{uired  Alma,  with  a  look  of  con- 
cern, the  instant  she  was  released  from  the  arms  of  the  scout. 

"Your  father,  mum?"  replied  Jones.  "0,  didn't  yer  see 
him?  Why  that  careless  shot  of  the  enemy  there  among  you 
jest  now,  seemed  to  raise  the  old  Captain's  dander  right  up, 
and,  seizing  the  gun  of  that  dead  tory,  that  my  old  Trusty 
here  brought  down  in  such  good  time  for  the  old  gentleman, 
ril  be  blest  if  he  didn't  hobble  off  like  the  very  mischief  to 
help  the  boys  man  the  cliff.  And  your  tame  redskin  has 
concluded  to  do  the  same  thing,  I  reckon,  seeing  as  how  he 
got  the  mitten,"  added  the  scout,  tipping  a  knowing  and 
saucy  wink  to  Zilpah. 

A  general  discharge  of  rifles  and  musketry  by  Selden's 
party,  along  the  top  of  the  ridge  to  the  south,  here  interrupted 
the  conversation,  announcing  that  the  enemy  had  made  their 
appearance  on  their  way  up  the  hill  towards  the  accessible 
points  in  the  ledge. 

"That  must  be  a  feint,"  observed  Captain  Selden;  "they 
can  not  be  serious  in  any  attempt  to  mount  the  ridge  in  the 
very  teeth  of  our  death-dealing  rifles,  can  they,  Jones?" 

"INTo,  Captain,  that  ain't  no  part  of  their  ealkerlation,  I'll 
swear  to  it.  Neither  need  we  have  any  fears  of  their  flanking 
round  the  ledge  to  the  north  of  us,  as  that  might  bring  'em 
between  two  fires,  one  from  us,  and  another  from  the  field. 


THE    GREEN    MOUNTAIN    BOYS.        '  311 

So,  while  a  few  of  'em  are  showing  themselves,  and  firing  just 
enough  to  keep  up  the  sham,  the  main  part  will  push  round 
at  the  other  end  of  the  ridge,  about  a  half  mile  or  so,  to  the 
south  of  us.  And  I  shouldn't  be  surprised  if  the  lead  was 
flying  considerable  thick  along  here  in  the  matter  of  twenty 
minutes  from  now — but  suppose  you  put  the  women  a  jog- 
ging. Captain;  and  let  me  be  looking  to  the  sarpents  a  little/' 
added  the  scout,  glancing  uneasily  around  him,  and  showing 
signs  of  impatience  to  be  gone. 

"You  are  right,  Jones,"  promptly  replied  Selden,  "and 
there  is  now  but  one  course  to  be  pursued.  The  ladies  must 
pass  down  the  hill,  and,  striking  for  the  open  field,  endeavor 
to  gain  the  rear  of  our  army.  I  must  attend  them,  leaving 
the  command  of  the  men  with  you  to  cover  our  retreat — can 
you  do  it?" 

"Wh)^,  I  rather  guess  I  mought;  that  is,  if  you  will  clear 
vrith  the  women — the  sight  of  them  kinder  clogs  a  fellow,  you 
know." 

"Call  in  Captain  Hendee,  then.  He  is  not  nimble  enough  for 
a  bush  fight.  Send  us  also  I^Teshobee,  and  two  of  my  men  as 
an  escort." 

"A}^,  ay,  Captain,"  cheerfully  responded  the  scout,  loping 
off  at  a  rapid  pace  to  his  charge — "ay,  ay,  we'll  fix  it  about 
right,  Avon't  we,  old  Trusty?    Trol,  lol,  lol  de  larly." 

Within  five  minutes  from  the  disappearance  of  Jones^  the 
family  party  v/ere  all  ccllected,  and  in  rapid  motion  down  the 
hill.  'Not  was  the  expedition  with  which  the  movement  was 
accomplished  uncalled  for  by  the  event:  For,  scarcely  had 
they  proceeded  a  furlong  on  their  route,  before  the  cracking 
and  irregular  reports  of  rifles  behind  them  announced  an  at- 
tack by  the  foe,  in  a  manner  just  predicted  by  the  sagacious 
scout.  Passing  onward  with  all  the  speed  they  were  capable 
of  making,  they  paused  not  in  their  course  till  they  reached 
the  spot  where  they  and  their  captors  had  halted  in  the  morn- 
ing. There,  after  taking  charge  of  Captain  Hendee's  horse, 
which  had  been  left  tied  to  a  tree,  and  ascertaining  from  the 
direction  and  distance  of  the  firing  at  the  scene  they  had  just 
left,  that  Jones  was  at  least  maintaining  his  position  on  the 
hill,  they  turned  short  to  the  west,  and  made  their  way  im- 
mediately to  the  opening,  where  the  main  action,  as  was  evi- 
dent from  the  heavy  discharge  of  artillery  that  occasionally 
came  pealing  through  the  forest,  was  still  kept  up  by  the 


312  THE    GREEN    MOUNTAIN   BOYS. 

slowly  retreating  enemy.  On  arriving  at  the  borders  of  tlie 
woods,  our  party  entered  the  mouth  of  a  ravine,  which,  while 
it  protected  them,  by  its  screening  banks,  from  the  view  of 
any  spies  whom  Sherwood  might  have  posted  on  the  hill, 
luckily  led  up,  and  opened  upon  the  plain,  directly  abreast  of 
the  position  now  occupied  by  Warrington's  regiment  of  Green 
Mountain  Boys. 

Passing  hastily  along,  in  Indian  file,  up  this  ravine,  till 
fairly  beyond  rifle-shot  distance  from  the  woods,  and  arriving 
by  this  time  at  an  elevation,  where,  still  unseen,  they  could 
easily  obtain  a  glance  over  the  scene  of  action,  the  company 
halted,  for  the  purpose  of  ascertaining,  before  proceeding  any 
further,  the  exact  position  of  the  American  forces,  and  the 
prospect  of  maintaining  the  temporary  advantages  which 
they  had  evidently  already  gained  over  the  boasted  brigade  of 
the  gallant,  but  now  mortified  General  Frazier. 

A  misty  veil  of  undissipated  sm.oke  still  hung  over  the  field 
of  battle,  and  prevented  Selden  and  Captain  Hendee,  who 
mounted  the  bank  for  the  purpose,  from  ascertaining  anything 
more  than  the  general  positions  of  the  hostile  armies.  The 
Americans  having  pursued  their  routed  enemies  a  short  dis- 
tance, had  fallen  back  upon  the  ground  occupied  by  them  at 
the  onset;  while  the  Eritish,  having  collected  and  rallied 
their  broken  and  disordered  forces,  had  made  a  sullen  stand 
about  half  a  mile  distant. 

"Our  troops  have  beaten  the  red-coats,  and  driven  them 
from  the  field  of  attack,  it  is  evident,"  observed  Selden,  mus- 
ingly, as  he  ran  his  eye  anxiously  over  the  field,  "and  yet,  I 
fear,  their  temporary  victory  has  been  bought  too  dearly  to 
permit  them  to  avail  themselves  of  the  -advantages  they  have 
obtained." 

"I  fear  so  too,"  replied  Captain  Hendee.  "Nor  do  I  exact- 
ly like  the  aspect  and  motions  of  the  enemy  yonder.  See! 
they  are  now  deploying  ofl:  towards  the  woods  against  our  left 
wing.  They  are  either  preparing  for  a  fresh  onset  in  a  new 
form,  or  opening  for  a  reinforcement  large  enough  to  form  a 
center;  and  I  am  apprehensive  the  latter,  as,  now  I  bethink 
me,  I  heard  a  treacherous  scoundrel,  who  came  near  us  a  few 
moments  before  you  arrived  for  our  rescue,  making  the  boast 
that  a  fresh  body  of  Burgoyne's  German  hirelings  were  but  a 
mile  or  two  distant,  and  in  full  march  for  the  field." 

"God  forbid!"  exclaimed  Selden,  Avith  a  look  of  anxiety 


THE    GREEN    MOUNTAIN    BOYS.  313 

and  alarm.  "But  this  must  instantly  be  seen  to.  Perhaps  our 
ofl&cers  are  not  aware  of  it.  I  must  immediately  forward  to 
Warrington.  Keep  your  position  here,  my  friends,  till  I  re- 
turn, which  shall  be  soon,  better  informed  how  to  act,  and 
with  some  plan  for  your  disposal,  or  escape,"  added  the  young 
officer,  as,  leaping  down  into  the  valley,  he  seized  the  horse 
from  the  hands  of  ISTeshobee,  mounted,  and,  waving  a  hasty 
adieu  to  the  ladies,  dashed  forward  at  full  speed  over  the  plain 
to  the  American  lines. 

Captain  Hendee,  still  retaining  his  post  of  elevation,  con- 
tinued anxiously  to  watch  those  movements  of  the  enemy 
which  had  raised  his  suspicions  of  an  approaching  reinforce- 
ment. ISTor  had  many  minutes  elapsed  before  his  worst  ap- 
prehensions were  confirmed  by  the  appearance  of  Eeidesel, 
Yv^ho,  with  fl3'ing  colors  and  rattling  drums,  and  all  the  pomp 
and  pride  of  military  array,  came  pouring  the  numerous 
troops  of  his  well  trained  brigade  across  the  field,  and  bearing 
down  in  solid  columns  directly  upon  the  American  center, 
which  stood  calmly  awaiting  their  approach;  while,  at  the 
same  time,  Frazier,  with  his  whole  force,  a  little  in  advance 
of  the  Germans,  moved  rapidly  along  under  the  woods  to  the 
south  against  the  extreme  left  of  the  Americans,  mostly  com- 
posed of  the  doubtful  regiment  of  Hale.  A  few  moments  of 
awful  suspense  followed;  and  again  the  flash  of  a  thousand 
exploding  muskets  enveloped  the  encountering  hosts  in  clouds 
of  rolling  smoke,  and  shook  the  earth  and  heavens  with  the 
fearful  concussions  that  followed. 

At  that  instant  Selden,  accompanied  by  a  soldier  with  two 
horses,  emerged  from  the  smoke  and  came  galloping  to  the 
spot. 

"Prepare  for  instant  flight!"  he  exclaimed,  hastily  dis- 
mounting, and  urging  his  horse  down  the  bank  towards  the 
little  grassy  nook  on  which  the  females  stood  instinctively 
crowding  together  in  mute  consternation  at  the  fearful  noise 
and  commotion  of  the  plain  above.  "Ten  minutes  delay  on 
this  spot  may  again  make  you  prisoners,  and  in  the  hands  of 
a  brutal  and  exasperated  soldiery." 

"There  is  no  hope,  then,  that  our  troops  can  long  with- 
stand this  fresh  and  formidable  onset?"  said  Captain  Hendee, 
coolly  preparing  to  mount  the  horse  allotted  to  carry  him  and 
his  daughter,  in  the  manner  in  vogue  among  the  settlers  of 
carrying  their  females  behind  them  on  horseback. 


"314         THE  GREEN  MOUNTAIN  BOYS. 

^^Scareely  longer  perhaps  than  to  allow  us  time  to  gain  the 
forest/'  replied  Selden^  placing  Jessy  on  the  crupper  of  his 
own  horse,  and  springing  himself  into  the  saddle  before  her, 
while  the  little  cavalcade,  the  two  maids  having  been  placed  on 
the  back  of  the  third  horse,  began  to  move  slowly  down  the 
rocky  and  frequently  obstructed  ravine. 

"I  feared  so,"  said  the  former;  "but  where  in  the  name  of 
Heaven  is  St.  Clair  all  this  time,  that  he  sends  no  reinforce- 
ment ?" 

"Well  may  you  ask  that.  Captain  Hendee,"  said  Selden 
bitterly — "within  hearing  of  our  guns — with  a  full  knoAvl- 
edge  of  our  attack  by  a  superior  force,  and  with  more  than 
two  thousand  troops  at  disposal,  all  impatient  to  be  with  us, 
he  allows  not  a  man  to  come  to  our  assistance.  God  forgive 
him!    I  can't.'' 

"Nor  I;  but  what  of  that  dainty-fingered  colonel,  whom  I 
noticed  from  the  hill  standing  aloof  and  idle  with  his  regi- 
ment at  a  distance  on  the  left?" 

"Hale?  *  Eternal  infamy  on  his  name!  Having  looked 
coldly  on,  and  mthout  lifting  a  finger  in  assistance  through 
the  whole  of  the  first  assault,  he,  on  the  approach  of  Frazier 
in  this  last  onset,  hoisted  a  white  flag — even  before  it  could 
be  seen  by  the  enemy,  and  disgracefully  surrendered  his  regi- 
ment, with  all  the  chance  in  the  world  to  save  it  by  retreat. 
And  by  this  craven  act  he  has  thrown  all  that  important  part 
of  the  field  into  the  possession  of  the  British,  who  are  already 
sweeping  past  us,  and  securing  the  roads  to  the  south,  leaving 
our  brave  friend  Warrington  with  his  regim^ent  of  heroes 
(scores  of  whom  are  stretched  bleeding,  or  lifeless  on  the  field), 
and  the  gallant  Colonel  Francis,  with  his  battalion  of  Massa- 
chusetts troops,  to  contend  with  a  fresh  force  of  more  than 
double  their  numbers.  But  they  must  soon  give  way — not  to 
retreat  in  a  body,  for  every  pass  by  which  that  could  be 
efi^ected  is  now  closed  against  them, — much  less  to  surrender 
themselves  as  prisoners,  but  to  break,  scatter  and  save  them-  , 
selves  as  they  best  can,  to  rally  again  in  some  appointed  place  | 
round  the  standard  of  their  lion-hearted  leader." 

*  It  is  but  justice  to  say,  that  though  this  was  the  version  put, 
on  Hale's  conduct  at  the  time  by  many,  yet  his  family  wholly 
deny  its  correctness,  and  affirm  he  demanded  a  court-martial,  but 
died  before  obtaining  it. 


THE    GREEN    MOUNTAIN    BOYS.  215 

'^And  whicli  way  do  yon  and  Warrington  propose  for  our 
flight,  after  reaching  the  forest?" 

"An  old  by-road  leading  from  the  head  of  yonder  pond  di' 
rectly  across  the  country  to  Otter  Creek,  and  there  intersect- 
ing the  Creek  road  to  Pittsford  and  the  older  settlements. 
One  of  our  guards,  here,  must  be  dispatched  to  call  in  Jones 
with  a  dozen  trusty  men  to  guard  us  on  our  way,  while  the 
rest  of  my  company  shall  keep  the  accursed  Sherwood  and  his 
gang,  if  possible,  engaged,  that  he  may  have  no  way  to  dis- 
cover the  route  vv^e  have  taken  till  we  are  beyond  the  reach  of 
his  malice.  But  hark!  ^tis  a  shout  of  triumph  from  the 
British  line?  Forward  with  all  possible  speed — for  God's 
sake,  forward  to  the  woods!" 

Dashing  onward  at  the  word,  the  whole  party  in  a  moment 
more  gained  the  confines  of  the  forest,  and  quickly  disap- 
peared within  its  recesses,  thus  escaping  the  dangers  of  the 
field,  where  they  had  been  nearly  involved  in  the  general 
melee  of  dispersing  pursued  and  pursuing  combatants,  that 
ensued  at  the  close  of  that  fierce  and  bloody  conflict,  but  es- 
caping only  to  encounter  other  perils,  in  their  flight  through 
the  woods,  of  a  still  more  fearful  and  dreadful  characteie 


CHAPTER  XII. 


•The  hour  of  fate  draws  on.' 


The  setting  sun  was  throwing  its  parting  beams  of  rich  and 
mellow  light,  m  a  thousand  variegated  hues,  over  the  inter- 
mingling foliage  of  the  deciduous  and  perennial  forest,  that 
deeply  clothed  the  mountain  slopes  to  the  eastward  of  the 
sluggish  Otter.  The  hardy  and  heroic  woman,  whose  lot  had 
been  cast  in  the  wilderness  on  the  banks  of  that  stream,  and 
whose  curious  abode  we  have  already  described  in  a  former 
chapter,  still  fearlessly  maintained  her  post,  in  spite  of  all 
the  terrors  and  dangers  of  an  invasion  which  had  driven  every 
settler,  to  the  north  and  west  of  her,  from  his  home,  and  laid 
open  all  that  section  of  the  Grants,  to  her  very  doors,  to  the 
unopposed  raYages  of  British  and  savage  foes. 


316  THE   GREEN   MOUNTAIN   BOYS. 

Her  toils  for  the  day  being  over,  slie  was  now  sitting  at  the 
door  of  her  rude  cabin,  enjoying,  with  an  anxious  and 
thoughtful  brow,  the  grateful  coolness  of  the  evening  air, 
while  her  hopeful  brood  of  embryo  foresters  were  lolling  upon 
the  grass,  or  gambohng  in  childish  freaks  around  her. 

"Oh  mother!  what  was  it  that  I  seed  over  yonder,  that 
twinkled  kinder  white  in  the  bushes,  just  now?^'  exclaimed 
one  of  the  younger  boys,  starting  up  with  excited  looks,  and 
pointing  to  the  opposite  side  of  the  Creek  at  a  spot  some  dis- 
tance up  the  stream,  where  the  clearing,  extending  to  the 
water,  afforded  a  fair  view  of  the  forest-lined  banks  of  the 
western  side  of  the  river. 

The  mother  started,  and  threw  a  quick  glance  in  the  di- 
rection thus  indicated,  but  perceiving  nothing,  she  sank  back 
into  her  seat,  and  observed,  "I  doubt  whether  you  saw  any- 
thing, my  son;  but  if  you  did,  it  was  probably  a  flock  of 
pigeons,  or  some  other  birds  rising  from  the  ground." 

"1^0  it  wan^t  mother,"  replied  the  boy  confidently,  "it  wan't 
birds!  It  was  something  coming  proper  fast  along  this  way, 
by  an  open  place  in  the  trees,  and  looked  just  like  folks  run- 
ning with  white  clothes  on." 

Aroused  by  this  last  remark,  as  well  as  by  the  eager  and 
confident  manner  in  which  it  was  made,  Mrs.  Story  hastily 
rose,  advanced  a  few  steps,  and  sent  an  anxious  and  scrutiniz- 
ing look  along  the  opposite  bank,  in  search  of  the  object  that 
had  so  excited  the  boy^s  attention.  That  object  was  the  next 
moment  disclosed  to  her  in  the  partied  view  she  obtained  of  a 
small  company  of  both  sexes  on  horseback,  urging  forward 
their  smoking  and  jaded  steeds  with  all  possible  haste  towards 
the  landing  on  that  side  of  the  stream.  She  had  been  acci- 
dentally apprised  that  the  Hendee  family  were  on  their  way 
south  the  day  previous,  and  having  heard  a  distant,  heavy  fir- 
ing, in  the  direction  they  had  taken,  the  fore  part  of  the  pres- 
ent day,  and  coupling  the  circumstances  with  the  hurrying  and 
alarmed  appearance  of  the  approaching  company,  a  painful 
apprehension  now  flitted  across  her  mind;  and,  with  an  air  of 
deep  concern,  she  stepped  inside  the  door,  took  down  her 
rifle,  and  began  to  proceed,  at  a  hurried  pace,  towards  the 
Creek.  Some  doubt,  however,  seeming  to  arrest  her  steps,  she 
stopped  short,  and  again  gave  eye  and  ear  to  objects  before 
and  around  her.  The  report  of  several  rifles,  some  hundred 
yards  up  the  stream,  follov/ed  by  the  distant  shout  of  skir- 


THE    GREEN    MOUNTAIN    BOYS.  317 

mishers,  at  that  instant  readied  the  spot,  and  at  once  re- 
solved her  doubts.  Turning  hastily  to  her  children,  now  hud- 
dling with  looks  of  alarm  around  her,  and  ordering  them  into 
the  house,  she  flew  down  the  path  through  the  woods  to  her 
landing,  drew  out  her  canoe  from  its  concealment,  and  spring- 
ing in,  pushed  out  boldly  for  the  opposite  shore,  at  which  she 
arrived  just  as  the  fugitives,  with  soiled  and  torn  garments, 
and  way-v/orn  and  troubled  looks,  came  hurrying  uj)  to  the 
spot. 

"God  bless  you  for  this  timely  promptitude,  Mrs.  Story,'' 
exclaimed  Selden,  leaping  from  his  horse,  and  assisting  the 
females  and  the  infirm  and  sadly  jarred  old  veteran  to  dis- 
mount. 

"You  are  pursued?"  eagerly  asked  the  widow. 

"We  are,"  answered  Selden,  "and  have  been  every  step  of 
the  way  from  the  red  field  of  Hubbardton.  We  did  not,  how- 
ever, intend  to  have  brought  peril  to  your  house.  But  strik- 
ing across  the  country  to  the  Creek,  with  the  hope  of  escaping 
up  the  road  to  Pittsford,  we  discovered  the  road  to  be  am- 
bushed by  a  party  of  our  outstripping  foes,  and,  as  our  only 
hope  of  escape,  turned  down  stream  to  find  refuge  at  your 
abode.  And  even  this  we  never  should  have  reached  alive, 
but  for  the  protecting  rifies  of  that  noble  fellow,  Pete  Jones, 
and  his  brave  and  trusty  scouts,  who  are  still  keeping  four- 
fold their  numbers  at  bay  till  v/e  can  cross." 

"Well,  Heaven  be  praised  for  your  deliverance  so  far,"  re- 
joined the  widow,  who  still  sat  in  her  boat,  heading  it  up 
against  the  bank  for  the  others  to  enter,  '^TDut  come,  girls, 
jump  in  here,  we  will  take  you  over  first." 

"Ay,  ay,"  said  Selden,  "there  is  not  a  moment  to  be  lost. 
And  here,  Neshobee,"  he  continued,  as  the  native,  who  had 
followed  his  friends  on  foot,  now  arrived,  "throw  down  your 
rifle,  dash  in  there,  and  swim  across  to  bring  back  the  boat, 
while  I  lead  the  horses  into  a  thicket — perhaps  they  may  be 
saved.  At  all  events,  there  is  no  chance  to  swim  them  over 
here." 

"The  canoe  will  not  carry  us  all  safely,"  said  Alma,  in  a 
quiet  and  sorrowful  tone,  as  her  companions,  who  had  first 
entered,  seated  themselves  in  the  boat. 

"Oh,  no  danger — not  the  least;  step  in,"  said  the  widow, 
encouragingly. 

"No,  let  me  remain,"  replied  the  former.     "There  will 


318  THE    GREEN    MOUNTAIN    BOYS. 

probably  be  no  danger  till  the  boat  can  return.  But  if  there 
should  he"  she  added^  in  the  same  plaintive  and  desponding 
accents^  "if  there  should  be^  what  matters  it  to  me?" 

"Alma  Ilendee!"  said  the  widow^  looking  up  at  the  other 
with  an  air  of  mingled  surprise  and  expostulation,  "how  is 
this?   where  is  your  fortitude?"' 

The  grief-stricken  maiden  made  a  slight  effort  to  speak,  but 
the  utterance  died  away  on  her  cjuivering  lip,  and  the  bright 
tear-drops  stood  in  her  eyes. 

"What  has  happened  to  her?"  asked  the  widow,  looking 
round  on  the  company  Y^'ith  an  expression  of  wonder  and  con- 


cern 


Warrington  has  fallen  in  battle,"  replied  Selden,  with  an 
unsuccessful  effort  to  speak  v/ithout  emotion. 

"Now,  Heaven  forbid!"  exclaimed  the  widow%  in  accents 
which  plainly  told  the  shock  which  the  sad  announcement 
had  imparted  to  her  feelings. 

"Yes,  the  gallant  fellow  has  left  us,"  resumed  the  other. 
"The  melancholy  tidings  were  received  from  a  soldier,  who 
joined  us  in  our  flight,  and  who  said  he  saw  him  fall  dead 
from  his  horse  in  the  last  moments  of  the  battle.  But  do  not 
allow  yourself  to  despond,  my  dear  Miss  Hendee.  You  had 
better  go  over  now,"  he  added,  soothingly,  as  he  approached, 
and  gently  urged  the  mutely  sorrowful,  but  now  passive  girl 
into  the  boat,  which  was  instantly  headed  round,  and,  under 
the  strokes  of  the  strong  armed  widow,  sent  surging  towards 
the  other  shore. 

Stopping  no  longer  than  to  see  the  females  under  v/ay,  Sel- 
den sprang  up  the  bank,  seized  the  horses  by  their  bridles,  and, 
whipping  them  into  a  lively  trot,  led  them  into  a  neighboring 
thicket,  tied  them  to  saplings,  and  flew  back  to  the  shore.  The 
active  3^oung  Indian,  who  had  readily  undertaken  to  swim 
the  stream,  had  already  returned  with  the  canoe,  taken  in 
Captain  Hendee,  and  sat  impatiently  waiting,  with  uplifted 
oar,  to  push  again  from  the  shore. 

"There!  now  lay  to  with  a  will,  my  lad,"  cried  Selden,  leap- 
ing into  the  boat,  just  as  the  scattering  fire  of  several  rifles, 
quickly  returned  by  that  of  a  much  larger  number,  a  short 
distance  beyond,  burst  from  the  bushes  at  a  point  now  not 
more  than  a  quarter  of  a  mile  up  the  stream,  apprising  them 
that  the  enemy  Avere  rapidly  driving  in  Jones  and  his  party, 
who,  as  previously  concerted,  v/ere  retiring  before  their  pur- 


THB    GREEN    MOUNTAIN    BOYS.  319 

suers  in  three  divisions,  each  in  turn  coming  in  front,  dis- 
charging their  pieces  from  their  coverts,  and  scudding  on  to 
the  rear  of  the  others,  to  reload,  and  await  the  approach  of 
their  foes. 

"If  we  can  get  one  boat-load  of  men  safely  over,"  resumed 
Selden,  "we  shall  be  able,  I  trust,  to  protect  the  rest  in  cross- 
ing; and  when  all  are  over,  I  hope  to  keep  the  rascals  on  their 
own  side  of  the  river." 

"That  may  be  done  till  dark,  perhaps,"  observed  Captain 
Hendee,  "but  with  our  small  force,  not  after,  I  think.  No, 
Captain  Selden,  unless  the  disposition  of  these  tories  is  less 
devilish  than  I  rate  it,  and  the  nature  of  their  Indian  allies 
has  changed  since  I  used  to  deal  with  the  hell-hounds,  we  may 
as  well  prepare  for  a  siege." 

"Let  it  come,  then,"  replied  the  other,  determinedly — "with 
the  widow^s  'tother  world'  for  a  concealment  and  strong-hold 
for  the  women  and  children,  and  those  impervious  logs  of 
her  cabin  to  ^Drotect  us  while  we  fight,  many  a  tory  and  red- 
skin must  take  a  leaden  supper  before  they  capture  us.  But 
here  we  are,  safe  ashore.  iSTeshobee,  will  you  take  back  the 
boat,  or  shall  I?" 

"Me  go — no  'fraid,"  answered  the  native,  again  pushing  out 
into  the  stream. 

"Very  well, — I  will  remain  to  superintend  the  transporta- 
tion of  the  men.  And  you.  Captain  Sendee,  had  better  pro- 
ceed immediately  to  the  house,  and,  if  you  will,  be  looking  a 
little  to  the  means  of  defending  it.  An  old  soldier  like  3^our- 
self  will  need  no  instructions  in  that  duty.  Hold  out  bright 
hopes  to  the  ladies,  but  see  that  they  retire  from  the  upper 
world  in  season,  and  while  they  may,  undiscovered,  if  their 
passage  to  the  lower,  with  which  I  am  unacqiiainted,  is  likely 
to  expose  them' to  the  sight  of  the  enemy." 

"Ay,  ay,  I  will  see  to  it,"  replied  the  other,  hurrying  off  with 
unwonted  activity  to  the  cabin,  where  he  was  met  at  the  door 
by  the  widow. 

"What  is  the  prospect.  Captain?"  she  asked,  in  a  low,  eager 
tone." 

"The  men  will  get  over,  I  think,  with  few  or  no  losses 
but—" 

"But  what?" 

"Those  untiring  fiends  are  after  blood!  Our  men  have  al- 
ready to-day  made  a  heavy  inroad  on  their  numbers,  and  they 
21     i 


320  THE    GREEN    MOUNTAIN    BOYS. 

are  determiued  on  revenge.  I  have  no  hope  but  that  they  will 
find  means  to  cross  the  Creek  and  besiege  us^  as  soon  as  it  is 
dark/' 

"I^or  have  I,  the  leasts  since  Alma  has  told  me  the  par- 
ticulars of  your  disasters,  and  the  conduct  of  that  wretch  who 
has  caused  them.  Hendee,  I  have  long  known  that  Jake 
Sherv/ood^  and  have  wondered  at  your  course." 

"I  was  duped — deceived,  Ann  Story,  but  I  have  been  an 
egregious  old  fool,  even  at  that,  I  will  ov/n, — besides  treating 
my  own  flesh  and  blood  like  a  tyrant  and  a  brute.  Furies!  I 
could  beat  my  own  brains  out!  If  you  v/ere  a  man,  and  con- 
nected with  me  as  you  are,  you  ought  to  curse  me  to  my  face. 
A  good  round  damning  from  a  friendly  source  would  seem 
to  relieve  my  feelings.    But  where  are  the  girls?" 

"All  within  here.  They  have  taken  a  little  refreshment, 
and  seem  getting  up  their  spirits  a  little." 

"Well,  we  will  not  dampen  their  feelings  at  present;  but 
they,  and  you  with  your  children,  had  better  be  on  the  move 
for  your  underground  refuge." 

"That  is  easily  gained  now\" 

"Why  you  enter  the  Creek  as  formerly,  don't  you?" 

"No,  I  have  made  an  improvement  this  summer.  Come, 
attend  me,  and  you  shall  see." 

"I  will,  but  must  first  glance  at  the  means  we  shall  have 
of  defending  the  house,  which  we  must  make  our  fortress,  for 
beating  off  or  Aveakening  the  enemy.  Your  place  of  conceal- 
ment below  must  be  the  last  resort  of  the  men,  if  they  enter  it 
at  all." 

They  now  entered  the  house,  and  were  met  by  the  anxious 
and  inquiring  looks  of  the  girls,  who  sat  silently  waiting  to 
hear  the  news  which  the  Captain  might  have  brought  from 
the  scene  of  action. 

"Has  he — "  at  length  commenced  Miss  Eeed,  unable  longer 
to  repress  her  anxiety,  but  stopping  short  and  blushing  at  the 
exclusiveness  of  the  inquiry  she  was  about  to  make,  "has — 
that  is,  is  the  danger  over?" 

"We  hope  so,"  replied  the  Captain,  "at  least,  there  can  be 
but  little  danger  for  you  females.  Captain  Selden  trusts  to 
prevent  the  enemy  from  crossing.  He  commands  without, 
and  I,  for  the  present,  within;    and  I  hope  to  find  in  you  a 


brave  garrison." 


THE   GREEN    MOUNTAIN    BOYS.  321 

"Jessy,  at  least,  will  prove  no  coward  for  herself,  I  suspect," 
remarked  the  widow,  a  little  archly. 

"Well,  both  she  and  Alma  are  soldiers'  daughters,"  resumed 
the  Captain,  "and  should  danger  beset  us  to-night,  I  trust 
they  will  bear  themselves  as  they  have  alread}'-  done  for  the 
last  twenty-four  hours,  with  firmness  and  fortitude.  But  now 
for  the  business  on  hand,"  he  added,  turning  to  the  hostess, 
and  glancing  round  the  walls  of  the  house. 

"Very  well,  sir,  and,  to  begin,  here  is  my  double  plank 
door — bullet-proof,  I  think,  and  the  fastenings  abundantly 
secure." 

"Yes,  I  have  noticed;  but  what  loop-holes  shall  we  have  to 
fire  from,  besides  that  window?" 

"Here,"  answered  the  widow,  stepping  up  to  one  of  the 
walls,  and  pulling  out  a  nicely  fitting  block  from  a  cone- 
shaped  embrasure  cut  through  one  of  the  logs.  There  are 
two  of  these  on  each  side  and  end  of  the  house,  and  as  many 
more  just  belov/  the  eaves  in  the  chamber  loft  above." 

"Just  the  things  for  us — and  now  if  we  had  but  a  long, 
square  block  to  fill  that  window — " 

"You  have  it  at  hand,  with  a  loop  like  the  rest,  in  that 
block  on  which  the  children  are  sitting  there." 

"Admirable!  a  regular  fort,  by  George!  Ann  Story,  you 
ought  to  be  the  wife  of  a  general.  Let  us  now  proceed  to  your 
unfindable  fastness  below." 

"In  an  instant,"  said  the  widow,  going  to  the  fire,  and 
blowing  up  a  torch.  "Boys,  lift  that  door,"  she  added,  point- 
ing to  a  trap  door  in  the  corner  of  the  room,  that  opened  into 
the  cellar. 

Followed  by  the  Captain,  the  widow  now  descended  "through 
the  trap  in  the  floor  on  a  short  ladder  into  the  cellar,  and 
going  to  the  western  side,  and  removing  a  bundle  of  straw, 
standing  against  the  wall,  disclosed  the  entrance  of  a  narrow, 
upright  passage,  leading  off  into  the  earth,  in  the  direction  of 
the  river. 

"Come  on!"  said  the  prompt  and  energetic  woman,  plung- 
ing, with  torch  in  hand,  directly  into  the  dark,  vaulted  way 
before  her. 

After  proceeding  several  rods  through  this  straight  and  nar- 
row passage,  all  smoothly  cut  through  the  solid  earth  some 
distance  below  the  surface,  they  came  to  a  lateral  excavation, 
forming  an  arched  room  about  a  dozen  feet  square, 


S22  THE   GREEN   MOUNTAIN   BOYS. 

^^Tliis  is  my  half-way  house — my  innermost  recess/'  said 
the  widow,  stepping  into  the  center  of  the  room  and  holding 
up  the  light  that  the  other  might  see  to  examine.  ''This  is 
a  much  stronger  place  than  the  outer,  or  western  room,  which 
you  have  been  into  before,  I  believe,  as  the  earth  is  here  much 
thicker  above  us,  owing  to  a  swell  in  the  surface,  over  which, 
to  make  it  still  more  difficult  to  dig  through,  spread  the 
Avidely  branching  roots  of  several  large  maples." 

''True,"  replied  the  Ca^otain,  "and  one  man  at  each  entrance 
might  defend  the  place  against  hundreds.  Ah!  I  plainly  see 
that  we  old  soldiers  have  got  to  jdeld  the  palm  to  you,  Ann: 
In  all  my  experience  of  twenty  years  among  these  northern 
forests  in  fighting  and  dodging  the  enemy,  and  planning, 
building,  or  seeking  out  places  for  forts,  defenses,  and  refuges, 
I  never  saw  or  thought  of  anything  like  this  establishment  of 
yours." 

"I  can  think  of  no  way  by  which  our  foes  can  rout  us  from 
this,"  rejoined  the  widow,  "unless  they  storm  us,  or  smoke  us 
out.  I  believe  I  shall  curtain  off  this  room  v»dth  blankets  for 
the  children  and  girls  to-night,  while  we  give  up  the  other 
room,  if  needed  to  our  defenders.  But  you  have  seen  enou.gh 
of  this,  let  us  pass  on." 

They  now  entered  the  remaining  part  of  the  passage,  which, 
after  running  a  few  rods  in  a  different  line,  and  then  winding 
around. to  the  left,  brought  them  into  the  large  partitioned 
room  we  have  formerl}^  described. 

"This  you  have  seen  before,"  said  the  widow,  pausing  as 
they  entered  the  room,  "and  there  is  nothing  new  to  show  you 
here,  except  my  stores;  those  barrels,".  ^Dointing  to  two  casks 
standing  just  within  the  entrance  of  the  smaller  room,  "con- 
tain provisions,  which,  on  the  rumor  of  the  approaching  in- 
vasion, I  employed  my  neighbor  just  before  he  left  us,  to  pur- 
chase for  me  at  Crown  Point." 

"Well,  it  is  not  impossible  that  we  shall  need  them,"  re- 
marked the  Captain  thoughtfully. 

"Famine  often  follows  closely  in  the  footsteps  of  war,"  re- 
sumed the  other;  "so  I  thought  I  would  supply  myself  in 
season.  Nor  do  provisions  constitute  the  whole  of  my  sup- 
plies; for  it  occurring  to  me  at  the  same  time  that  something 
like  the  present  emergency  might  happen,  I  made  another 
purchase,  which  may  be  still  more  important  to  us." 

"W]iat  may  that  be?"  asked  the  other. 


I^n^   GREEN   MOUNTAIN   BOYS.  22S 

^^Stand  back  to  the  mouth  of  the  entrance,  take,  and  hold 
np  this  torch,  and  I  will  show  you,"  ansvrered  the  woman, 
proceeding  to  the  opposite  side  of  the  room,  taking  down  a 
broad  piece  of  bark,  which  had  been  snugly  fitted  into  the 
mouth  of  a  little,  low  chamber,  or  recess,  excavated  in  the 
earthy  wall,  and  disclosing  to  view  the  ends  of  some  half 
dozen  strongly  bound  casks,  to  which  she  now  directed  his 
attention  with  her  finger. 

"What  have  you  there,  Ann,  so  mysteriously  hid  up,"  said 
the  old  gentleman  with  a  look  of  mingled  curiosity  and  sur- 
prise. 

"Gunpowder,  with  an  abundance  of  lead  behind  there  to 
serve." 

"Indeed!   but  not  all  your  own,  surely?" 

"No; — only  one  is  mine — the  rest  belong  to  the  settlers, 
who  live  north  of  this,  and  who^  expecting  that  a  stand  would 
have  been  made  against  the  enemy  in  this  ^dcinity,  had,  it 
seems,  amply  provided  themselves  for  the  crisis.  But  finding 
that  resistance  w^ould  be  useless,  they  concluded  to  flee;  when, 
getting  wind  of  my  stronghold,  they  brought  their  munitions, 
which  they  were  unable  to  carry  with  them,  to  this  place  for 
safe  keeping  till  they  should  return  or  send  for  them." 

"Faith!  that's  lucky,"  exclaimed  the  Captain.  "It  may  be 
wanted  to  supply  the  powder  horns  of  the  men,  and-^and"' — 
he  continued  partly  to  himself,  as  he  glanced  about  the  room, 
with  a  look  of  wild  and  exulting  joy  at  the  thought  which 
.seemed  to  strike  his  mind,  "and  with  the  chance  which  these 
under-ground  rooms  and  passages  aiford,  as  a  last  resort,  of 
blowing  that  infernal  gang  nearer  heaven  than  they  will  other- 
wise ever  get — but  timiC  enough  to  think  of  that  when  other 
measures  fail." 

"What  measures  ?"  asked  the  widow,  who,  having  been  busy 
in  replacing  the  door  of  her  magazine,  had  not  heeded  the  re- 
marks of  the  other,  except  two  or  three  words  at  the  close. 

"0,  nothing  of  any  present  moment,"  answered  Captain 
Hendee,  wdth  the  air  of  one  willing  to  let  the  words  pass 
Avithout  being  understood;  "but  let  us  now  see  how  you  have 
fixed  the  outer  entrance." 

Eesuming  her  torch,  the  widow  immediately  led  the  way 
through  the  passage  to  the  entrance  at  the  bank  of  the  Creek. 

"There!  having  no  further  use  for  this  entrance,  I  have 
fastened  it  up,"  said  she,  pausing  as  she  appoached  the  end 


324  THE    GREEN    MOUNTAIN    BOYS. 

of  the  avenue,  which  was  blocked  up  by  a  single  layer  of 
square  short  timbers,  placed  horizontally  across  the  passage 
and  let  into  the  earth  at  the  ends.  "It  can  only  be  opened  on 
the  inside,  as  yon  perceive,  or  at  least,  not  easily;  and  I  have 
considered  it  a  safe  barrier,  though,  to  be  sure,  by  consider- 
able digging  on  the  outside — but  hush! — harkt  Do  you  hear 
that  shouting  out  upon  the  Creek,  or  on  its  banks?" 

"Ay;  and  it  sounds  as  if  there's  trouble  afoot  too.  Can  not 
this  top  timber  be  removed  without  danger  of  exposing  the 
entrance  to  the  discovery  of  the  enemy  from  the  opposite 
bankP' 

"I  should  think  so,  as  the  mouth  is  pretty  thickly  overhung 
with  bushes." 

"Let  us  lift  it  out  then,  that  we  may  see,  or  at  least  hear, 
what  is  going  on." 

The  timber  was  accordingly  carefully  removed;  when 
through  the  crevice  thus  formed,  a  tolerable  distinct  view  was 
obtained  of  a  long  reach  of  the  Creek  above,  and  a  short  one 
below.  The  last  boat  load  of  Selden's  men  had  gained  the 
middle  of  the  stream,  and  were  pulling  with  all  possible  speed 
for  the  hither  shore,  on  which  all  those  who  had  crossed  were 
posted  behind  their  coverts,  keenly  watching,  with  cocked 
and  leveled  pieces,  for  the  first  head  that  should  be  raised  on 
the  opposite  bank  to  fire  upon  the  boat.  The  boat's  crew  as 
they  had  been  ordered,  were  all  seated,  save  one  man,  who  had 
inadvertently  risen  on  his  feet  to  point  out  to  his  companions 
on  shore  the  object  which  had  caused  the  noise  and  stir  that 
had  reached  the  ears  of  the  widow  and  her  friend.  The 
man's  arm  was  still  extended  up  the  river  with  the  motions  of 
one  trying  to  count  a  series  of  some  moving  objects. 

The  widow,  having  the  most  favorable  position  for  the  pur- 
pose, instantly  turned  her  eyes  in  the  direction  thus  indi- 
cated. 

"What  can  you  see  as  the  cause  of  the  commotion?"  asked 
the  Captain,  after  the  other  had  gazed  an  instant  in  silence. 

"Well,  I  confess,  I  don't  know  exactly  what  to  make  of 
them,"  replied  the  woman,  as  with  a  puzzled  expression  she 
still  kept  her  eyes  riveted  on  the  spot: — "something  is  evident- 
ly crossing  the  Creek,  nearly  as  far  as  I  can  see  up  the  stream. 
At  any  other  time,  I  should  think  it  must  be  a  flock  of  cranes 
with  their  long  necks  only  above  water." 

"It  is  the  Indians!"  exclaimed  the  Captain,  in  low,  start- 


THE    GREEN    MOUNTAIN    BOYS.  325 

ling  accents — "it  is  the  Indians^  swimming  the  Creek  on  their 
backs^  and  holding  their  guns  upright  on  their  breasts.  I 
have  seen  their  tricks  before  to-day.^' 

At  that  instant  a  stream  of  smoke,  accompanied  b}^  the 
sharp  crack  of  a  rifle,  shot  out  fiercely  from  an  old  tree-top 
on  the  opposite  bank,  while^,  at  the  same  time,  the  man  stand- 
ing in  the  boat  fell  over  backwards  into  the  water,  and  sunk, 
to  rise  no  more,  beneath  its  bubbling  surface.  An  exclamation 
of  horror  rose  to  the  lips  of  the  Captain  and  the  widow;  but 
before  it  could  be  uttered,  and  while  the  echoes  of  the  last 
shot  were  yet  ringing  among  the  neighboring  hills,  the  stun- 
ning report  of  another  rifle,  bursting  from  the  bank  directly 
over  their  heads,  and  followed  by  a  hollow  groan,  and  a 
floundering  in  the  bushes  on  the  other  side  told  that  the 
death  of  the  victim  was  avenged. 

*^'There!  Jim  Townley,"  exclaimed  the  well  known  voice 
of  Pete  Jones  on  the  bank  above,  "  ^Old  Trusty'  has  done  the 
business  for  your  murderer,  I  guess;  though  if  he  hadn't  tore 
his  coat  so  as  to  make  a  white  spot  in  his  back,  as  he  was 
slinldng  away,  I  never  could  have  got  an  aim  worth  firing  for. 
Well,"  he  continued,  soliloquizing,  as  he  appeared  to  be  re- 
loading his  piece,  "that  is  the  way  with  the  best  of  us.  Jim 
was  a  fellow  of  first  rate  grit,  and  I'd  rather  gin  an}i;hing  but 
old  Trusty — yes,  and  that  too, — ^than  to  have  him  gone  so. 
But  if  spirits  can  hear  and  see  things,  as  some  think,  it  will 
be  a  grand  comfort  to  one  of  Jim's  spunk  and  pride,  on  his 
way  along  up,  to  know  that  the  bloody  rascal  didn't  live  to 
brag  on't." 

The  survivors  of  the  boat's  crew,  now  reaching  the  landing, 
sprang  upon  the  bank,  and  took  their  station  among  their 
comrades  along  the  shore,  to  watch  any  further  appearance 
of  their  foes.  But  none  daring  to  show  themselves  after  the 
lesson  just  received,  a  silence  of  some  minutes  now  prevailed. 
The  calm  was  not  destined,  however,  to  last  long.  Another 
cry  of  alarm  was  soon  raised  by  one  of  the  men,  eagerly  calling 
on  the  rest  to  look  down  the  stream. 

"0,  the  divils!  the  divils!"  cried  the  shrill  voice  of  Jones, 
"they  have  stole  our  horses,  and  are  swimming  them  across 
down  there,  with  tv/o  of  the  lubbers  on  the  back  of  every 
horse.  By  Judas!  what  a  chance  to  plug  them,  if  I  was  only 
forty  rods  nearer!  Say,  Captain  Selclen,  what  if  I  take  two  or 
three  men,  and  send  them  down  that  way  a  little?" 


326  THE    GREEN    MOUNTAIN    BOYS. 

"ISTo,  Jones/'  replied  Selclen^  "our  force  is  too  small  to  scat- 
ter. The  Indians  in  a  few  minntes  more  will  be  npon  us  from 
above;  besides,  we  have  not  a  man  to  lose  in  open  fight.  Let 
everyone,  therefore/'  he  continued,  raising  his  voice  to  a  tone 
of  command,  "retire  from  the  bank,  and,  keeping  a  tree  in  his 
range,  repair  directly  to  the  house.  Then  let  them  come  with 
a  welcome." 

"Well,  the  hour  of  trial  is  at  hand,"  observed  the  widow 
with  a  sort  of  desperate  calmness,  "and  may  God  be  merciful 
unto  us.  Assist  me,  Captain  Sendee,  to  replace  this  timber; 
and  then  I  must  instantly  back  to  bring  down  my  children  and 
the  girls.  The  men  vrill  reach  the  house  by  the  time  we  can 
get  there  ourselves.  There!  that  will  do — all  safe,  I  tliink. 
I'^ow  follow  me  as  fast  as  your  crazy  old  limbs  will  let  you— 
come  on — faster — faster — come  on! — come  on!"  And  with 
the  old  veteran,  taxing  his  powers  of  speed  to  the  utmost  to 
keep  up,  the  fearless  woman,  though  anxious  mother,  with 
her  torch  streaming  behind  her,  rather  flew  than  walked,  till 
she  had  gained  the  cellar,  and  sprang  up  the  ladder  leading 
up  into  the  room,  where  she  had  left  the  objects  of  her  solici- 
tude. 

"Here!"  she  exclaimed,  raising  her  head  through  the  trap, 
and  glancing  round  the  room,  where  the  females,  ignorant  of 
what  had  taken  place  without,  were  unconcernedly  sitting, 
with  the  children  sitting  about  their  chairs,  "here,  to  the 
cellar,  every  chick  and  child  of  you,  to  the  cellar!  And  you, 
girls,  must  follow,  without  a  moment's  delay/'  she  added, 
seizing  the  little  urchins  by  the  waists,  and  lifting  them,  one 
by  one,  in  rapid  succession,  down  the  pass-way,  as,  alarmed  by 
the  startling  tones  of  their  mother's  voice,  they  ran  huddling 
to  the  entrance. 

"Is  there  any  immediate  danger?"  asked  Alma,  calmly, 
though  with  an  expression  of  some  surprise,  at  the  rapid  and 
agitated  manner  of  the  widow. 

"]^ot  for  us,  if  we  are  out  of  the  w^ay;  but  the  tories  are 
crossing  below,  and  the  Indians,  on  this  side  above,  are,  by 
tbis  time,  perhaps,  within  gun-shot  of  us,  in  the  skirts  of 
yonder  woods." 

"And  Selden  and  his  men?" — eagerly  said  Jessy. 

"Will  be  here  in  a  moment  to  make  this  room  their  fortress, 
for  tbeir  own  and  our  protection.     And  a  shower  of  balls. 


THE    GREEN    MOUNTAIN    BOYS.  327 

through  that  open  door  and  window,  will  probably  salute  them 
as  the}^  enter/' 

"True,  true/'  observed  Captain  Hendee,  who,  having  crowd- 
ed by  the  widow  on  the  ladder,  and  gained  the  floor,  now 
stepped  to  the  door,  hastily  shut  it,  and  proceeded  to  bring 
the  block  for  closing  up  the  window,  "true,  this  danger  to 
the  girls  and  children  did  not  occur  to  me,  as  it  seems  it  did  to 
jou,  by  your  leading  my  rheumatic  legs  such  a  deuced  race 
through  the  passage  from  the  Creek.  Yes,  girls,  down  with 
you  all,  and  on  to  the  middle  room,  and  having  no  fears  but 
that  we  will  defend  you/' 

"But  you,  father!"  said  Alma,  looking  back  as  she  was 
descending,  v/ith  an  expression  of  solicitude,  "you  are  surely 
not  to  remain? — jou  are  too  old — infirm — " 

"I  am  young  again,  girl.  The  thought  of  our  treatment, 
and  the  fate  which  our  foes  evidently  design  for  us  still,  make 
me  a  soldier  again — go  down,  my  daughter,  and  may  God  be 
with  you,  and  strike  for  us  all,"  said  the  old  veteran,  letting 
down  the  trap  upon  the  last  of  the  retiring  party. 

Scarcely  had  the  mingled  voices  of  the  women  and  children 
died  aw^ay,  as  they  retreated  along  the  passage  to  their  refuge 
under  the  earth,  before  Selden  and  his  men  came  scattering 
along  into  the  house,  fortunately  not,  however,  with  the 
danger  which  the  widow  had  anticipated.  As  soon  as  the 
whole  company,  now  numbering  but  twelve,  including  Cap- 
tain Hendee  and  Neshobee,  had  gained  the  room,  they  im- 
mediately proceeded  to  barricade  the  door,  and  put  every- 
thing in  the  best  possible  condition  for  a  defense. 

While  they  were  busily  engaged,  unmindful  of  the  severe 
fatigues  of  the  day,  in  the  excitement  created  by  the  alarming 
prospects  of  the  night,  which  was  now  about  to  set  in,  the 
trap  door  was  pushed  up,  and  the  provident  widow  reappeared, 
ascending  the  ladder  with  a  large  loaf  of  bread  and  a  haunch 
cf  dried  venison  under  one  arm,  and  a  pail  of  water,  in  which 
floated  the  accustomed  gourd-shell,  slung  on  the  other.  With 
many  a  blessing  on  the  widow's  head,  and  many  an  oath  to 
defend  her  and  hers  to  the  death,  the  famished  and  wearied 
soldiers  eagerly  fell  upon  the  grateful  repast,  after  which  they 
repaired  with  renewed  spirits  to  the  several  stations  allotted 
them,  above  and  below,  along  the  walls. 

"I  wish  the  rascals  would  make  themselves  manifest,  if 
they  are  arouiid  uS;,  as  I  suspect/'  observed  Selden,  after  the 


328  THE    GREEN    MOUNTAIN    BOYS. 

company  had  stood  some  time  at  their  respective  loop-holes, 
silently  awaiting  the  appearance  of  the  enemy. 

'^That  they  will  be  cunning  enough  not  to  do  till  the  ap- 
proach of  darkness/'  replied  Captain  Hendee.  "Then  you 
will  hear  from  them^  I'll  warrant  yon.  And  as  they  can  have 
but  small  hope  of  perforating  these  logs  with  their  bullets, 
they  vail  probably  attempt  to  beat  down  the  door^  or  burn 
the  house  over  our  heads." 

"They  will  find  the  latter  a  difficult  job,  I  imagine,"  re- 
sponded Selden.  "These  bare  logs,  after  the  heavy  rain  of 
last  night,  and  that,  too,  at  the  distance  at  wiiich  we  can 
manage  to  keep  the  knaves,  cannot  offer  much  inducement  for 
an  attempt  to  ignite  them  with  lighted  arrows." 

"True,"  replied  the  other,  "but  you  forget  the  roof — these 
bark  coverings  are  rather  combustible." 

"No,  I  thought  of  that,"  rejoined  Selden,  "and  was  about  to 
remark,  that  if  they  fired  the  roof,  we  must  tear  it  off." 

"That  can  be  done,  perhaps,"  replied  the  former.  "At  all 
events,  it  will  be  time  enough  to  think  of  it  when  they  ar- 
rive  for  the  attack;  for  I  doubt  whether  there  is  now  one  of 
them  within  a  quarter  of  a  mile  of  us." 

"JSTow,  I've  a  notion  there  is/'  said  Pete  Jones,  who,  in  the 
meanwhile,  had  been  keenly  watching  every  appearance 
within  the  scope  of  his  vision.  "And  I  shouldn't  be  much  sur- 
prised if  some  of  those  stumps  and  log-heaps  over  in  the 
widow's  grass  yonder,  if  they  could  talk,  would  be  willing  to 
swear  to  it." 

"Have  you  actually  seen  any  of  them,  Jones?"  asked  Sel- 
den. 

"AYhy/'  answered  the  scout,  with  his  peculiar  comic  twist 
of  features,  "I  have  actually  seen  a  sign  or  two,  that  I  have 
never  known  fail,  except  in  the  dryest  of  times.  And  with 
)'our  leave,  Captain  Selden,  I  have  thoughts  of  an  experiment, 
by  way  of  putting  the  question  at  rest,  and  doing  something 
more,  perhaps,  into  the  bargain." 

"Well — very  well — "  said  Selden,  pausing  for  the  other  to 
explain  the  nature  of  his  proposal. 

"Here  is  at  it,  then/'  said  the  scout,  choosing  to  answer  by 
actions  rather  than  words,  the  inquiry  which  the  manner  of 
his  superior  implied,  while  he  proceeded  to  strip  off  his  coat, 
button  it  up,  and,  with  the  brush  of  an  old  broom  that  stood 
in  a  corner,  distend  the  body,  running  the  short  handle  into 


THE    GREEN    MOUNTAIN    BOYS.  329 

one  arm  to  keep  tlie  artificial  limb  thus  made  in  a  horizontal 
position. 

"What  are  yon  a  going  to  do  with  yonr  scare-crow  now?" 
asked  Selden^  who,  with  the  rest  of  the  company  stood  look- 
ing on,  anxious  to  learn  the  character  of  the  proposed  strata- 
gem. 

"Til  show  you  in  a  minute,"  replied  Pete,  now  getting  the 
poker,  and  suspending  his  contrivance  on  one  end  of  it. 
"There,  Captain  Hendee,  I  want  you  should  take  charge  of 
this  concern — you^ll  know  how  to  manage  it — while  the  rest 
of  us,  who  have  keener  sight  for  aim  in  the  dusk,  will  attend  to 
our  rifles.  But  mind  ye,  I  have  first  got  to  deliver  a  little  bit 
of  an  oration  for  the  benefit  of  the  gentlemen  outside,  if  so 
be  that  they^re  within  ear-shot,  as  I  surmise." 

The  scout  then,  after  pulling  out  one  end  of  the  block  in 
the  window  a  short  space,  that  his  voice  might  the  better  be 
heard  by  those  whom  it  was  intended  to  reach,  commenced 
and  carried  on  by  himself  a  sort  of  ventriloquial  dialogue, 
purporting  that  a  discovery  had  suddenly  been  made,  that 
they  were  out  of  bullets,  and  were  wishing  to  obtain  a  bar  of 
lead  that  had  been  left  standing  outside  under  the  window, 
while  the  question  seemed  to  be,  who  should  expose  himself  by 
reaching  out  his  hand  to  get  it;  but  one  at  length  appearing 
to  be  found  hardy  enough  to  undertake  the  task,  the  speaker 
suddenly  dropped  the  discourse,  and  turned  to  the  company 
present. 

"There,  boys,  have  your  muzzles  to  your  loops,  and  your 
eyes  on  the  look-out  for  game,"  he  said,  in  a  low,  eager  tone. 
"And  you.  Captain  Hendee,  be  ready  to  pass  the  figure  up  to 
the  window,  which  I  am  about  to  lay  open,  and  which  all,  as 
they  value  the  union  of  body  and  soul,  must  keep  out  of  the 
range  of.  Don't  fire  till  I  give  the  word.  All  ready?  well, 
here  goes,  then,"  he  added,  swinging  out  the  block,  and  step- 
ping quickly  to  his  loophole. 

Captain  Hendee  now  proceeded  immediately  to  execute  the 
part  he  had  been  requested  to  perform.  And  while  the  com- 
pany were  waiting  with  breathless  interest  the  result,  he  moved 
along  the  effigy  towards  the  window,  so  as  to  show  only  one' 
arm  and  a  portion  of  the  bust  to  those  who  might  be  watching 
without,  skillfully  imparting  to  the  figure  the  cautious  and. 
hesitating  motions  of  a  living  actor,  who  might  be  supposed 
to  be  conscious  of  the  hazard  incurred,  though  determined  to 


330  THE    GREEN   MOUNTAIN   BOYS. 

approach.  Scarcely  had  the  protruding  arm  entered  the  nar- 
row opening,  bringing  one  side  of  the  body  in  fair  view  to  the 
supposed  lurking  enemy  without,  when  a  bright  flash  sudden- 
ly gleamed  through  the  window,  and,  with  the  almost  simul- 
taneous report  of  a  dozen  guns,  bursting  from  the  surrounding 
coverts,  a  shower  of  bullets  passed  through  the  efhgy,  and 
buried  themselves  in  the  logs  of  the  opposite  wall.  There 
was  again  a  momentary  silence,  when,  with  the  lifting  smoke 
along  the  line  from  which  the  tire  proceeded,  several  dark 
forms  became  visible,  j^^ering  out  from  their  respective 
coverts,  and  quivering  and  dodging  about  in  the  dissipating 
vapor.  Then  came  the  sharp  word  of  command  from  the 
w^atchful  scout. 

"Fire!" 

Eight  well-aimed  rifles  from  the  loops  along  the  walls 
above  and  below,  instantly  spoke  in  response;  and  the 
mingled  screech  of  a  half  dozen  voices,  followed  by  a  yell  of 
rage  and  disappointment  from  the  whole  band  of  the  be- 
siegers, plainly  told  the  result  of  the  stratagem. 

''Now  by  hokey!  if  I  don't  keep  this  coat  to  brag  oh — six 
bullet-holes  right  through  the  body,  and  the  owner  still  alive 
and  kicking!"  exclaimed  the  scout,  picking  up  the  riddled 
garment,  and  feeling  out  the  bullet-holes  with  his  fingers,  as 
the  loud  shout  of  exultation  and  defiance,  which  burst  from 
the  little  band  on  the  occasion,  died  away  in  the  surrounding 
forest. 

For  -nearly  an  hour,  the  besieged,  who  had  closed  up  their 
window,  and  resumed  their  respective  posts,  now  strained  both 
ear  and  eye  in  vain,  to  catch  some  sight  or  sound  indicating 
the  presence  of  the  foe  around  them.  But  fully  aware  of  the 
desperate  and  wily  character  of  those  with  whom  they  had 
to  deal,  they  determined  to  suffer  none  of  their  vigilance  to 
relax.  And  but  a  short  time  elapsed,  before  they  made  a  dis- 
cover}^, which  taught  them  the  wisdom  of  the  resolution: — 
As  all  stood  watching  at  their  posts  in  silence,  a  low,  short 
exclamation  from  the  young  Indian,  testified  that  something 
suspicious  had  at  length  attracted  his  attention. 

"What  now,  Neshobee?"  softly  asked  Selden,  stepping 
noiselessly  towards  the  native,  who  was  lying  on  the  floor  in 
one  corner,  listening  through  a  crevice  which  he  had  found 
between  the  lower  logs. 

"Me  no  see  nothing,  but  hark  um  scratch  um  buttons — 


THE   GREEN   MOUNTAIN   BOYS.  831 

guess  tim  lift  something,"  was  the  somewhat  hesitating  reply. 

"ril  grant  you  the  best  ^harkum/  as  you  call  it,  boy/'  said 
Pete  Jones,  who  stood  near,  and,  on  the  exclamation  of  the 
Indian,  had  renewedly  taxed  his  vision  to  discover  the  cause; 
"but  as  to  eye-shot,  you  have  got  to  knuckle  to  me,  for  I  can 
see  them;  and  they  are  at  some  bobbery,  too — though  what  in 
the  name  of  reason  it  can  be,''  he  continued,  pausing  and  hesi- 
tating, as  he  turned  his  head  one  way  and  then  another,  to 
obtain  a  more  distinct  view;  *^Svhat  it  can  be,  I  am  dubious 
whether  the  divil  himself  can  tell — unless  he  contrived  it  for 
'em.  They  are  moving  down  the  path  this  way,  I  believe;  yes, 
and  in  pairs,  too,  like  new-married  geese.  What? — no — yes, 
they  have  got  something  upon  their  shoulders — I  should  think 
it  was  one  of  the  corpses  we  made  for  'em,  which  they  were 
carijing  to  be  buried,  only  it  is  as  long  as  a  sea-sarpent." 

'^Aha!  I  understand  it,"  cried  the  young  leader,  "it  is  some 
long  timber  which  they  intend  to  use  as  a  battering-ram,  to 
beat  in  our  door.  And  thank  Heaven  for  the  timely  discovery, 
but  for  which,  ten  to  one,  we  had  been  lost, — and  even  as  it 
is,  there  is  danger  enough.  Stand  to  your  guns,  boys,"  he 
continued,  in  a  low,  thrilling  tone,  though  sufficiently  raised 
to  reach  every  man  within,  "if  we  can  but  drop  two  or  three 
of  the  foremost,  the  whole  probably,  will  be  carried  down  by 
the  weight  of  the  timber — cock  your  guns — keep  a  steady  eye 
on  the  advancing  column,  and  be  ready  for  the  word." 

Slowly,  and  with  noiseless  tread,  did  the  performers  of  this 
new  mode  of  attack  approach  along  the  path,  staggering  under 
the  weight  of  the  long,  heavy  pole,  or  rather  the  trunk  of  a 
closely-trimmed  tree,  which  they  bore  on  their  shoulders,  till 
within  three  or  four  rods  of  the  house;  when,  squaring  round, 
and  pointing. the  butt  end  of  their  formidable  implement 
directly  at  the  door,  they  began  to  bear  it  forward  with  mighty 
force  towards  the  object  of  its  aim,  which,  the  next  instant 
must  have  given  way  before  the  tremendous  impetus  which  it 
was  gathering  for  the  blow.  At  that  critical  juncture,  Sel- 
den  gave  the  signal  to  his  impatient  men,  and  every  gun  that 
could  be  brought  to  bear,  was  discharged  upon  the  assailants. 
A  cry  of  agony  rose  from  the  spot,  followed  with  a  shout  of 
"hold  on!  for  God's  sake,  hold  on!"  Then  was  heard  the 
sounds  of  floundering  footsteps,  and  in  another  breath,  the 
whole  came  tlumdering  to  the  grouiid.    Once  more  the  house 


332  THE    GREEN    MOUNTAIN   BOYS. 

rung  with  the  triumphant  shouts  of  the  Green  Mountain  Boys, 
and  all  again  was  silent. 

Another  long  respite  was  allowed  our  little  band,  and  dur- 
ing the  hour  succeeding  the  last  onset,  nothing  could  be  seen 
or  heard  to  betray  the  presence  of  the  enemy  anywhere  in  the 
vicinity  of  the  spot.  They  had  evidently  retired  to  some  dis- 
tance to  hold  a  consultation,  and  arrange  some  new  method  of 
attack.  At  length,  however,  the  occasional  crackling  of  a  dry 
stick,  as  it  broke  apparently  under  cautiously-moving  feet  in 
the  fields  and  woods  around,  apprised  the  intently-listening 
band  within,  that  the  twice  baffled  foe  were  again  stealthily 
drawing  up  to  the  spot,  still  bent  on  renewing,  in  some  shape 
or  other,  the  assault.  After  appearing  to  approach  to  their 
line  of  coverts,  reaching  within  five  or  six  rods  of  the  house, 
a  dead  silence  of  many  minutes  ensued,  leaving  the  besieged 
still  wholly  ignorant  of  the  form  in  which  the  threatened  at- 
tack was  to  be  made,  and  even,  at  length,  in  some  doubt 
whether  it  was  to  be  made  at  all.  All  at  once  a  tremendous 
outcry  broke  through  the  surrounding  gloom,  and  the  thrill- 
ing yells  of  the  savages,  mingled  with  the  hoarser  shouts  of. 
the  tories,  resounded  in  one  unceasing  din  through  the  forest. 
Startled,  but  not  dismayed-,  by  this  sudden  outbreak,  the 
Green  Mountain  Boys  instantly  cocked  their  pieces,  and  stood 
straining  their  vision  to  catch  a  glimpse  of  the  foe.  But  they 
watched  in  vain.  ]N"o  living  object  was  to  be  seen,  though  the 
noise,  which  seemed  not  to  be  the  regular  war-cry  sometimes 
raised  on  the  eve  of  an  onset,  but  a  promiscuous  clamor,  was 
continued  without  the  least  intermission.  And  together  with 
the  war-whoop  and  shout,  the  rattling- of  guns  and  ramrods, 
the  crashing  of  dry  brush,  the  beating  of  clubs  against  trees, 
the  mimic  hooting  of  owls,  the  howling  and  bellowing  of  wild 
beasts,  with  all  imaginable  noises,  seemed  to  unite  to  swell 
the  strange  uproar. 

"Well,  now,  if  I  ain't  beat,''  exclaimed  Pete  Jones,  as  usual 
the  first  with  his  comments  on  the  occasion.  "I  wonder  if  the 
foolish  satans  expect  to  throw  down  our  walls  of  hard  maple 
logs,  and  well  locked  together  at  the  ends  to  boot,  by  racket 
and  roaring,  as  the  Jewish  militia  did  those  of  old  Jericho, 
that  I've  read  of  in  the  scripter?  I  rather  guess  they  will 
find  it  a  hard  go,  unless  they  blow  them  down  with  horns  of 
powder,  as  I've  sometimes  kinder  reckoned  must  be  the  mean- 
ing of  the  good  book,  in  that  business  I've  just  spoke  of,  seeing 


THE    GREEN    MOUNTAIN    BOYS.  333 

as  how  it  was  jest  as  easy  for  God  to  make  'em  gunpowder  to 
do  it  with,  as  'twas  manna  to  eat." 

"I  think  it  must  be  a  feint/'  replied  Selden,  ^^to  cover  some 
design  of  a  more  dangerous  character  than  mere  noise.  An 
attack  of  some  kind  is  doubtless  in  preparation  for  us;  but  in 
wdiat  manner  or  place  the  storm  is  to  burst  I  am  wholly  at 
loss  to  conjecture.  Keep  a  keen  eye  abroad,  boys.  And  you,. 
Neshobee,  go  immediately  down  through  the  passage  to  the 
western  entrance,  where  you  heard  Captain  Hendee  say  he 
would  repair,  when  he  left  us  a  short  time  ago.  Tell  him  to 
keep  a  strict  guard  in  that  quarter,  and  if  beset,  send  instantly 
for  a  reinforcement.  And  now,  my  brave  lads,"  he  continued, 
turning  to  his  men,  ^"^a  crisis  may  be  at  hand,  which  will  re- 
quire your  coolness  and — but  stay — what  means  this?  Do 
my  eyes  deceive  me,  or  is  it  groAving  lighter  in  the  room?" 

"It  is — it  certainly  is!"  responded  several. 

"The  moon — the  rising  moon!"  suggested  others. 

"You  needn't  go  to  blaming  the  moon  for  this,"  coolly  ob- 
served Jones,  "for,  according  to  my  reckoning,  it  won't  be  up 
this  two  hours." 

"True,"  said  the  leader,  "though  evidently  reflected  light, 
it  is  not  from  the  moon.  See!  see!  how  rapidly  it  increases!" 
he  continued,  as  a  sort  of  flickering  suffusion  of  light,  weak 
and  scarcely  perceptible  at  first,  but  growing  stronger  and 
more  distinguishable  every  second,  as  if  reflected  from  a 
steadily  kindling  flame  in  some  unseen  point  in  the  heavens, 
now  began  dimly  to  light  up  the  grounds  around  the  house, 
and  even  render  objects  in  the  room  visible.  "This  light  was 
never  made  by  the  enemy  to  enable  us  to  shoot  them.  There 
is  mischief  afoot  somewhere.  Let  every  man,  then,  stand  to 
his  post,  and  let  every  eye  be  strained  to  discover  the  cause." 

At  that  instant  the  appalling  cry  of  "fire!  the  roof  is  on 
fire!"  resounded  through  the  loft  above,  revealing  at  once  to 
the  startled  inmates  below,  the  character  of  the  expected  dan- 
ger, and  the  meaning  of  the  mysterious  uproar,  which  had,  it 
was  now  evident,  enabled  the  enemy  to  approach  the  house, 
mount  it  at  the  corners,  set  fire  in  different  places  to  the  roof 
with  their  ready  prepared  combustibles,  and  descend  and 
escape  unheard  and  undetected. 

"Cut  the  fastenings  of  the  outside  binders  of  the  roof,  and 
stave  off  every  bark  of  the  covering  that  the  fire  has  reached," 
shouted  the  excited  leader  to  the  men  above. 


'sU  The  green  mountain  boys. 

"It  will  expose  us  to  certain  death  from  the  shot  of  the 
enemy,  to  make  an  opening  while  we  remain  here/^  was  the 
reply. 

'^Eip  np  the  floor  between  us,  then/'  promptly  said  Selden, 
"to  give  ITS  a  chance  to  do  it  from  below  here — off  with  the 
fastenings!  up  with  the  floor!  Hand  us  down  two  or  three 
of  those  longest  plank  for  our  purpose,  and  descend  your- 
selves to  our  assistance.  Lively,  my  men!  As  you  value  your 
salvation,  be  lively !'' 

In  prompt  obedience  to  the  command,  the  men  tore  up  the 
loose  boards  composing  the  fl.oor,  and,  after  passing  down  to 
their  comrades  below  such  as  might  be  needed,  hastily  threw 
the  rest  together  at  the  ends  of  the  loft,  leaving  all  the  inside 
of  the  roof  open  to  the  lower  floor;  when,  swinging  them- 
selves down  by  the  bare  beams,  they  joined  in  the  operations 
already  then  in  rapid  progress  upon  the  frail  covering  above. 
The  long  boards  having  been  reared  up  endwise,  and  each  one 
placed  in  the  hands  of  two  strong  men,  were  now  thrust  forci- 
bly against  the  roof  at  the  different  points  where  the  fires 
were  supposed  to  be  burning  on  the  outside;  and  several 
breaches  were  made,  all  expecting,  that,  by  the  removal  of  a 
few  of  the  barks,  the  flames  might  be  extinguished.  But 
appearances  soon  taught  them,  that  their  hopes  of  thus  con- 
quering the  element  were  wholly  delusive.  The  light  above, 
instead  of  d3dng  away,  as  portions  of  the  burning  roof  were 
removed,  continued  rapidly  to  increase.  Small  tongues  of 
the  lambent  flames,  began  to  show  themselves  through  the 
lateral  crevices  in  the  covering  in  numerous  places,  quivering, 
and  leaping  from  point  to  point  along  the  inner  surface,  while 
a  general  crackling  above,  plainly  told  them  that  the  fire  had 
already  spread  nearly  or  quite  over  the  whole  of  the  outside 
of  the  roof.  Perceiving  that  nothing  short  of  unroofing  the 
whole  building  would  stop  the  ^^rogress  of  the  flames,  they 
now  proceeded  with  renewed  vigor  in  their  operations.  Piece 
after  piece  of  the  broad  barks  were  beat  off,  and  hurled  blazing 
to  the  ground.  And  the  work  was  continued  with  unabated 
energy,  till  the  last  vestige  of  the  burning  material  had  been 
removed,  and  nothing  but  the  naked  rafters  intervened  be- 
tween the  lower  floor,  on  which  all  our  little  band  were  now 
assembled,  and  the  starry  heavens  above  them. 

"There,  thank  Heaven,  we  are  freed  from  that  danger  at 
last!"  exclaimed  Selden,  in  tones  of  gratulation,  as  he  threw 


THE    GREEN    MOUNTAIN    BOYS.  335 

down  the  implement  with  which  he  had  been  assisting  the 
men  in  their  labors. 

''That's  right  enough/'  observed  the  scout,  whose  attention 
for  some  moments  seemed  to  have  been  arrested  by  some  ap- 
pearance he  noticed  through  a  loop-hole.  "x\ll  that  is  right 
enough,  mayhap;  but  while  we  are  putting  up  thanks  for  de- 
liverance from  one  danger,  I  am  a  little  suspicious  whether 
or  no  we  hadn't  better  join  to  'em  a  small  bit  of  a  pra3^er  to  be 
delivered  from  a  worse  one  that  we've  got  to  see  to  soon,  I've 
a  notion — jest  look  here.  Captain." 

Selden  turned  to  the  spot  occupied  by  the  speaker,  who 
stood  silently  and  successively  pointing  to  the  different  loop- 
holes along  the  walls,  and  the  words  of  the  latter  were  ex- 
plained. Flames,  rising  from  the  ground  on  the  outside,  be- 
gan to  be  visible,  and  their  flickering  points  were  already 
darting  up  in  fitful  leaps  athv/art  several  of  the  apertures, 
announcing  to  the  dismayed  inmates,  that  a  fire  was  in  rapid 
progress  on  the  outer  walls  of  the  house,  from  combustibles 
which  had  been  piled  up  against  them,  doubtless,  at  the  time 
of  firing  the  roof,  and  which  had  been  kindled  by  fire  placed 
there  by  the  enemy,  or  by  burning  fragments  of  bark  falling 
down  from  above.  All  saw  at  a  glance  that  it  was  utterly  im- 
possible to  arrest,  by  any  means  now  left  them,  the  spreading 
conflagration,  and  that,  consequently,  the  house  must  soon 
be  relinquished  to  the  devouring  element.  And  but  a  few 
more  moments  had  elapsed,  before  they  were  warned,  by  the 
spouts  of  crackling  flames  now  beginning  to  shoot  up  above 
the  tops  of  the  roofless  walls,  and  by  the  sensibly  increasing 
heat  in  the  room,  to  prepare  for  their  retreat  to  their  last 
refuge  in  the  subterraneous  abode  of  their  provident  hostess. 
At  that  instant,  the  voice  of  Sherwood,  the  leader  of  their 
foes,  was  heard  above  the  roaring  of  the  flames,  loudly  calling 
on  the  besieged  to  yield  themselves  as  prisoners,  and  come 
forth,  lest  they  should  perish  in  the  fire. 

"Is  there  a  possibihty  of  getting  a  glimpse  of  that  demon 
through  the  loops?"  asked  Selden,  in  a  tone  of  concentrated 
bitterness.  "If  there  is,  let  a  rifle  bullet  take  back  his  an- 
swer." 

In  pursuance  of  the  suggestion  of  their  leader,  the  men 
made  an  attempt  to  get  a  sight  of  their  foes,  who,  now  sensi- 
ble of  their  advantage,  were  heard  shouting  within  a  few  rods 
of  the  house.    But  it  was  useless;  for  the  walls,  by  this  time, 

22 


336  THE    GREEN    MOUNTAIN    BOYS. 

were  so  completely  enveloped  in  fire  and  smoke  as  wholly  to 
intercept  the  view  of  every  object  without. 

"Let  lis  beat  a  retreat,  then,  for  the  widow's  stronghold  be- 
low/' resumed  Selden;  "but  let  us  pause  a  moment  to  send  a 
glance  over  yonder  tree-tops,  lest  they  contain  eyes  vfhich 
will  discover,  in  our  movement,  what  I  trust  those  exulting 
fiends  do  not,  and  will  not  suspect — ^that  this  is  not  our  last, 
nor  best  resource  for  bafliing  their  hellish  purposes.'' 

The  last  speaker  had  scarcely  ceased,  before  Jones,  who 
seemed  to  have  anticipated  the  object  of  his  superior,  raised 
his  rifle  to  his  shoulder,  preparatory  to  an  aim,  while  his  eye 
continued  intently  fixed  on  the  body  of  a  large  hemlock 
standing  eight  or  ten  rods  from  the  house. 

"What  now,  Jones  ?"  said  the  former,  who  had  noticed  the 
sudden  movement  of  the  scout. 

"Hold  easy!"  replied  the  other,  "there's  something  that 
acts  mightily  like  a  red-skin  going  up  the  back  side  of  that 
tree  yonder.  But  he's  so  pesky  delicate  about  showing  any- 
thing better  than  toes  and  fingers — stay — stay" — he  contin- 
ued, in  a  low  gleeful  chuckle,  "there's  a  large  limb  just  above 
him,  which,  if  he's  fool  enough  to  try  to  pass  it,  must  throw 
his  body  out  of  the  track  so  far  that — and,  by  Jethro!  he 
is  a  going  to  try  it.  ISTow  hold  still  as  thunder,  all,  and  I'll 
be  the  chap  to  speak  to  the  red  divil." 

Every  eye  now  glanced  anxiously  from  the  long  and  stead- 
ily poised  tube  of  the  scout  to  the  tree  in  question,  and  a  mo- 
ment of  breathless  silence  succeeded;  when  the  sharp  report 
of  the  piece  rung  through  the  forest,  and  the  dull  heavy  jar 
upon  the  earth,  that  instantly  followed,  told  that  another  foe- 
man  was  added  to  the  long  list  of  victim's  who  had  fallen  be- 
neath the  murderous  bullets  of  the  unerring  old  Trusty. 

"Down!  down  with  you  all,  before  the  smoke  of  the  piece 
rises,"  exclaimed  Selden,  as  he  now,  after  hunting  his  men 
through  the  trap  into  the  cellar,  hastily  descended  himself 
and  let  the  door  down  after  him. 


THE   GREEN  MOUNTAIN  BOYS.  S37 


CHAPTEK   XIII. 


'The  waves  a  moment  backward  bent— 
The  hills  that  shake,  although  unrent. 
As  if  an  earthquake  pass'd — 
The  thousand  shapeless  things  all  driven 
In  cloud  and  flame  athwart  the  heaven, 
By  that  tremendous  blast." 


Leaving  the  burning  building  to  its  fate^  Selden  and  his 
men  immediately  entered  the  dark  avenue  below^  when,  after 
blocking  up  the  mouth  as  well  as  they  could,  with  earth  and 
stones  taken  from  the  cellar  wall,  to  keep  out  the  smoke,  as 
well  as  to  secure  it  against  the  discovery  and  entrance  of  the 
enemy,  should  they  break  into  the  house  before  the  progress 
of  the  flames  in  the  interior  should  prevent  them,  they  pro- 
ceeded directly  to  the  middle  excavation.  Here  they  met 
their  hostess  walking  with  restless  steps  and  anxious  looks 
to  and  fro  before  the  curtained  apartment  containing  her 
family. 

"Well,  Mrs.  Story,^^  said  Selden,  as  he  approached  at  the 
head  of  his  followers,  "I  regret  to  inform  you  that  your  house 
is  irrecoverably  on  fire.  We  have  done  our  best  to  avert  the 
catastrophe,  but  have  wholly  failed,  and  even  have  been 
driven  to  retreat  to  your  refuge  for  our  own  safety." 

"I  know  it,"  replied  the  widow,  "I  have  been  up  to  the 
mouth  of  th„e  passage  to  listen  every  five  minutes,  and  know 
all  that  has  happened.  But  let  the  house  go — all — every 
thing,  and  I  am  content  if  my  treasures  here,"  she  continued, 
with  a  slight  tremor  of  voice  as  she  pointed  towards  the  cur- 
tained recess,  "if  my  treasures  here  can  but  be  spared  me.  The 
little  fellows,  thank  Heaven,  are  now  all  asleep,  and  know 
nothing  of  the  dangers  that  hang  over  them.  And  God  grant 
that  they  may  remain  so  till  the  hatchets  of  the  hell-hounds 
now  yelling  above  us  shall, — if  it  is  so  ordered  of  Heaven, — 
shall  be  buried  in  their" — here  choking  with  emotion  at  the 
horrid  tliought  which  her  imagination  began  to  suggest,  she 
stopped  short  and  was  for  a  moment  silent. 

22 


338  THE   GREEN   MOUNTAIN   BOYS. 

"Captain  Selden/^  she  at  length  resumed^  "were  my  own 
personal  safety  alone  concerned,  I  think  I  could  follow  you 
to  the  cannon^s  mouth  without  flinching.  But  when  I  find 
the  lives  of  my  children  at  stake,  the  mother  instantly  prevails 
within  me,  and  I  become,  in  sjoite  of  all  I  can  do,  a  poor  trem- 
bling coward.  But  enough  of  this — have  you  any  reason  to 
suspect  the  enemy  are  aware  of  our  place  of  refuge?" 

"!I^one  whatever;  and  even  at  the  worst,  we  think  you  have 
but  little  to  fear.    But  where  are  the  girls  ?^^ 

"Alma  and  Jessy  are  in  yonder  room  guarding  the  hollow 
stub  through  which  the  smoke  of  our  fire-place  escapes,  lest 
some  of  the  enemy  should  discover  that  avenue  to  the  room, 
and  attempt  to  descend." 

"Xobly  employed!  But  the  duty  shall  now  be  done  by 
fitter  hands,"  said  Selden,  as,  followed  by  his  men,  he  passed 
on  to  the  main  apartment. 

On  reaching  the  room  they  found  the  girls,  as  the  widow 
had  named,  stationed  before  the  rude  fire-place.  Alma  was 
sitting  upon  a  block  in  an  attitude  which  would  enable  her 
to  hear  the  least  sound  connected  with  the  hollow  trunk 
above;  while  her  more  volatile  companion,  having  chosen 
the  part  of  sentry,  was  silently  walking  back  and  forth  be- 
fore the  hearth  with  the  widow's  rifle  in  her  hand.  ISTor  was 
this  weaj^on  their  only  dependence;  a  quantity  of  loose  straw 
was  lying  in  the  fire-place,  and  a  slow  burning  torch  was  at 
hand  to  apply  and  set  the  combustible  material  into  a  blaze 
the  instant  any  one  should  attempt  to  enter  the  cavity  above. 

"Bravo!  ladies,"  exclaimed  Selden  as  he  approached.  "I 
don't  now  remember  me,"  he  continued,  eyeing  Jessy  archly, 
"to  have  seen  so  heroic  a  display  of  this  character  since  whi- 
lom at  the  bloody  siege  of  the  Lower  Falls." 

"'iSTow,  Captain  Selden,"  replied  the  other  with  a  half-re- 
sentful, half-deprecating  look,  "if  you  ever  mention  that 
aft'air  again,  I  will  never — positively — never  forgive  you.  Be- 
sides, how  can  you  feel  lii^e  joking  at  such  an  hour  as  this?" 

"For  ourselves  we  tremble  not,"  interposed  Miss  Hendee, 
rising  and  turning  to  Selden  with  her  usual  calm  dignity  of 
manner;  "but  think  of  that  distressed  mother  and  her  help- 
less family,  upon  whose  heads  we  have  brought  this  fearful 
peril!" 

"Heaven,  forbid  that  we  should  be  unmindful  of  them,"  re- 
joined the  young  leader^  seriously;    "and  believe  me,  Miss 


THE    GREEN    MOUNTAIN    BOYS.  339 

Hendee,  there  is  not  a  man^ — not  a  single  man  of  us 
here^  who,  if  need  be,  would  hesitate  to  shed  his  hearths  blood 
in  her  defense.  But  we  will  now  relieve  you  of  your  charge 
here,  ladies.  Eetire  then,  and,  if  possible,  to  rest  and  slum- 
ber; for  1  well  know  your  exhausted  systems  must,  by  this 
time,  require  both.  Go,  girls/'  he  added,  conducting  them  to 
the  entrance  of  the  passage  leading  to  the  apartment  of  their 
hostess,  "go, — keep  up  bright  hopes,  and  rely  on  our  disposi- 
tion! and  ability  to  defend  you." 

As  soon  as  the  ladies  had  retired,  a  guard  was  selected  to 
supply  the  place  they  had  just  relinquished^  and  another  was 
ordered  to  relieve  Captain  Plendee  and  his  faithful  attendant 
at  the  western  entrance.  The  remainder  of  the  men,  glad  to 
seize  ever}^  moment  offered  them  for  rest,  mostly  threw  them- 
selves upon  the  earthy  floor,  and  fell  asleep,  while  Selden  and 
Captain  Hendee,  willing  to  leave  them  to  what  repose  they 
might  thus  snatch  from  the  duties  to  which  they  were  liable 
the  next  instant  to  be  called,  repaired  to  the  small  partitioned 
room  adjoining,  to  hold  a  consultation  and,  be  ready  for  any 
movements  which  might  be  made  by  their  persevering  foes. 
A  brief  period  of  comparative  silence  now  succeeded,  in  which 
nothing  was  to  be  heard  below  but  the  deep,  heavy  snoring 
of  the  wearied  men,  and  the  low,  dull  roaring  of  the  flames 
above.  Slight  jarrings  of  the  earth,  hov/ever,  showing  that 
the  enemy  were  again  in  motion,  at  length  began  to  be  per- 
ceptible below;  and  soon  the  unexpected  sounds  of  the  blows 
or  hatchets  were  added  to  other  indications  of  some  fresh 
project  about  to  be  attempted  by  the  besiegers,  the  nature  and 
object  of  which  the  besieged  had  now  no  means  of  ascertain- 
ing. 

"!N"ow  that  just  settles  the  question;  for  I'll  be  blest  if  I 
stand  it  any  longer,"  exclaimed  Jones,  who  had  for  some  time 
manifested  signs  of  uneasiness  as  he  sat  listening  to  the  move- 
ments above  ground,  and  who,  as  the  last  sound  struck  his 
ear,  sprang  upon  his  feet,  and  began  with  restless  steps,  to 
pace  the  apartment.  "To  be  cribbed  and  holed  up  here  like 
so  many  hunted  foxes,  with  forty  devils  over  our  heads,  who 
may  be  preparing  to  send  down  one  of  those  great  hemlocks 
to  smash  us  like  midgets,  for  anything  we  know,  or  fixing 
some  other  contrivance  for  us  not  much  better,  and  all  without 
allowing  us  the  least  chance  to  know  the  how,  when  and 
whereabouts,  is  a  thing  I  don't  fancy.    And  if  I  can  get  out 


§40  TIIE    GREEN    MOUNTAIN    BOYS. 

thsre  at  the  Creek^  I  swow  by  Luciier's  red  talieta  Jacket,  I'll 
jest  know  what  they  are  up  to  there  above  ground." 

"What  do  you  propose  to  do,  Jones?"  asked  Selden,  who, 
OA^erhearing  part  of  the  scout's  soliloquy,  now  entered  the 
room:   "not  to  go  out,  and  alone,  surely?" 

"I  reckon  I  jest  do.  Captain — ^that  is,  unless  you  swear  right 
doYvn  I  shan't." 

"But  consider  the  danger  of  its  leading  to  a  discovery  of 
our  refuge,  and  the  fearful  j)ersonal  risk  you  must  encounter." 

"And  then  again  consider  the  chance  that  the  satans  have 
smelt  out  that  secret  already,  or,  at  the  best,  that  they  will, 
when  the  house  falls  in,  and  the}^  find  we  ain't  there.  And  as 
to  my  own  risk  in  the  matter^  I  think  you  hadn't  ought  to 
grumble  much,  if  I  don't,  considering,"  said  the  scout,  tak- 
ing the  other's  remarks  for  a  consent  to  his  proposed  excur- 
sion, and  moving  towards  the  entrance. 

"Jones,  you  shall  not  go  alone — it  shall  never  be  said  I 
suffered  that,"  said  Selden,  calling  after  the  scout,  and  snatch- 
ing up  a  rifle,  and  following  him  into  the  passage. 

Although  Selden  had  given  way  to  the  proposal  of  the  scout 
Avith  a  mind  nearly  balanced  between  the  dangers  which  might 
be  averted,  and  those  which  might  be  incurred  by  the  meas- 
ure^ yet,  having  once  decided  to  permit  and  take  part  in  it 
himself,  he  threw  aside  all  his  doubts,  and  proceeded  to  carry 
it  into  instant  execution.  And  having  ordered  the  guard  at 
this  post  to  be  doubled,  and  leaving  the  command  with  Cap- 
tain Hendee,  to  act  as  circumstances  should  dictate,  the  two 
adventurers  removed  a  portion  of  the  block-work  at  the  mouth 
of  the  passage  sufficient  for  an  egress,  crept  cautiously  and 
silently  out  into  the  open  air,  and  soon  gained  the  top  of  the 
bank,  above,  immolested.  Here  they  paused  a  moment  to 
listen  and  reconnoiter;  and  perceiving  no  signs  of  the  pres- 
ence of  any  enemy,  except  in  the  immediate  vicinity  of  the 
burning  tenement,  and  being  thus  relieved  from  their  fears 
of  an  ambush  at  this  spot,  which  they  considered  the  greatest 
personal  hazard  that  they  would  be  likely  to  incur,  they  again 
set  forward  towards  the  scene  of  action,  by  separate  and 
slightly-diverging  routes,  under  the  agreement  that  each 
should  return  by  himself,  and  as  speedily  as  possible,  after  ob- 
taining the  best  knowledge  of  the  situation  and  movements 
of  the  enemy  of  which  the  case  would  admit.  Carefully  keep- 
ing within  the  shadow  of  a  tree  or  bush,  lest  the  light  of  the 


THE    GREEN    MOUNTAIN    BOYS.  341 

conflagration,  which  was  brightly  illuminating  every  open 
space  in  the  woods  aronnd,  should  expose  him  to  the  view  of 
the  enemy,  Selden,  after  leaving  his  companion,  crawled  noise- 
lessly on  to  the  border  of  the  woods,  where  he  soon  succeeded 
in  gaining  a  position  in  a  thick  clump  of  low  evergreens,  which 
luckily  afforded  him  every  chance  he  could  wish  for  observa- 
tion. The  greater  part  of  the  enemy  were  still  at  their  sta- 
tions, a  short  distance  from  the  house,  where  they  stood,  peer- 
ing over  their  coverts,  v>dth  their  guns  leveled  at  the  door, 
which  they  were  evidently  each  moment  expecting  to  see 
thrown  open  by  the  besieged,  whom  the  flames,  they  sup- 
jDosed,  must  soon  drive  from  the  house.  A  small  band  was 
busily  engaged  in  the  edge  of  the  woods,  some  eight  or  ten 
rods  to  his  left,  in  trimming  out  with  their  hatchets  a  small 
spruce  tree,  which  they  had  just  cut  down,  and  which,  he  at 
once  concluded,  was  to  be  used  as  another  battering-ram;  the 
former  one  being  found  by  them,  probably,  too  unwieldy  for 
their  purpose.  While  Selden  stood  making  these  observa- 
tions, he  heard  the  steps  and  voices  of  persons  in  the  open 
grounds,  apparently  approaching  from  the  spot  at  which  the 
engine  was  preparing,  and,  turning  his  head,  he  was  soon 
enabled  to  see  two  men  coming  from  a  nook  in  the  clearing 
some  rods  to  his  left,  of  which  his  situation  had  not  permitted 
him  a  full  view.  Passing  along  near  the  woods,  they  soon 
came  between  him  and  the  burning  pile,  when  they  slackened 
their  pace;  and  finally  coming  to  a  stand  a  little  to  his  right, 
they  turned  their  faces  tov/ards  the  fire.  With  the  first  flash 
of  light  that  fell  upon  their  features,  Selden  instantly  recog- 
nized in  one  of  them  Sherv/ood,  the  leader  of  the  band.  The 
other  he  rightly  judged  to  be  Darrow,  the  reckless  minion  of 
the  former.  Selden^s  rifle  was  instinctively  brought  to  his 
face,  with  an  aim  at  Sherwood^s  heart,  and  his  finger  was  feel- 
ing for  the  trigger,  when  prudence  overcame  the  temptation 
of  ending  the  life  of  the  villain,  and  slowly  and  reluctantly 
lowering  his  piece,  he  gave  his  attention  to  the  dialogue 
which  now  ensued  between  these  two  worthies. 

"Yes,  the  tables  are  now  turned,  Darrow,"  were  the  first 
words  that  became  distinctly  audible  to  our  listener.  "We 
have  now,  singularly  enough,  chased  them  round  nearly  to  the 
spot  where  this  same  accursed  Selden  was  one  of  the  foremost 
of  the  gang  to  have  me  tied  up  and  whipped  like  some  scurvy 


842  THE    GREEN    MOUNTAIN   BOYS. 

thief.  And  if  he  is  the  same  fellow  you  saw  in  the  woods,  near 
Crown  Point — " 

"That  I  can  swear  to." 

"And  if  yon  are  right  in  your  suspicions  as  to  the  other 
particular — " 

"I  am  more  and  more  convinced  of  it,  Jake." 

"Well,  I  got  one  glance  at  his  features  to-day,  and,  come  to 
look  at  him  with  that  object,  I  swear,  I  believe  you  are  right; 
and  if  so,  both  interest  and  revenge  demands  his  death  while 
he  is  in  our  power.  But  I  should  prefer  to  have  this  brought 
about  before  they  surrender;  and  that  was  th«  reason  of  my 
particular  orders  to  the  men  to  pick  him  off  as  socn  as  |)os- 
sible." 

"Yes,  and  how  the  devil  it  has  happened,  that  he  has  so 
long  escaped  the  eifects  of  that  order,  is  more  than  I  can  tell. 
I  have  had  four  fair  shots  at  the  fellow  myself  in  the  course 
of  the  chase  to-day;  and  two  or  three  of  the  men  say  they 
have  tried  it  with^the  same  luck.  Ho  stands  fire  like  a  sala- 
mander," added  the  ruffian,  with  a  ferocious  grin  at  his  own 
wit,  "and,  by  hell!  I  am  beginning  to  think  they  are  all  of 
that  sort  of  animals,  to  stand  out  there  in  the  flames  at  this 
rate." 

"Well,  the  worst  is  their  own,  damn  'em,"  rejoined  Sher- 
wood, with  a  demoniac  laugh;  "and  if  they  do  get  baked  a 
little,  it  is  no  more  than  they  deserve.  But  the  fact  is,  they 
must  have  been  driven  out  long  ago,  if  they  had  not  contrived 
some  way  to  keep  out  the  flames — the  one,  probably,  which  I 
suggested,  that  of  bringing  earth  from  the  cellar,  and  strew- 
ing it  over  the  upper  floor." 

"And  still  they  must  know,  that  in  fifteen  minutes  more, 
they  will  all  be  buried  beneath  a  blazing  log-heap." 

"True;  and  I  am  surprised,  I  will  own,  that  they  don't 
throw  open  the  door,  and  call  for  quarter.  But  we  will  now 
very  soon  save  them  the  trouble,  as  I  see  our  men  are  just 
starting  with  their  battering-pole  to  beat  in  the  door." 

"I  see;  and  I  am  glad  they  have  got  it  under  way,  at  last; 
for  that  will  tell  the  story,  devilish  quick;  and  to  tell  the 
truth,  Jake,  I  am  plaguy  suspicious  of  some  trick  about  this 
business." 

"Well,  if  there  is,  this  will  be  the  best  way  to  discover  it; 
but  had  not  you  better  go  and  take  the  command?" 

"Xo;  Remington  will  know  how  to  manage." 


THE    GREEN    MOUNTAIN    BOYS.  343 

^^Have  you  given  him  and  the  men  their  orders?" 

"Yes — To  let  drive  at  the  door  with  all  vengeance." 

"And  in  case  they  rush  out?" 

"Why,  shoot  down  the  men,  and  spare  the  women  for  our 
use." 

"And  supposing  they  cry  for  quarter?" 

"Eemington  is  to  grant  them;  but  three  or  four  of  such 
marksmen  as  he  shall  select,  are  not  to  understand  the  order 
till  they  have  dropped  Selden  on  your  account,  the  old  Cap- 
tain on  mine,  and  that  long-logged  devil,  who  has  settled  the 
fate  of  so  many  of  their  companions  to-day  on  their  own." 

"All  right,  Darrow;  but  come,  let  us  move  a  little  to  the 
south,  where  we  can  get  a  fairer  view  of  the  door,  when  they 
make  the  trial,  and  where,  at  tie  same  time,  we  shall  be  out 
of  the  range  of  the  bullets,  should  the  rascals  be  desperate 
enough  to  attempt  to  fire  uj^on  us  again.'' 

It  was  with  no  small  effort  that  Selden  restrained  himself 
from  taking  immediate  vengeance  on  the  black-hearted  villain 
before  him,  as  he  listened  in  silence  to  the  foregoing  dialogue, 
and  discovered  the  extent  of  his  diabolical  designs.  The 
consciousness,  hov,^ever,  that  the  lives  of  many — and  among 
them,  one  whose  life  was  dearer  to  him  than  his  own — might 
be  endangered  by  the  act,  enabled  him  to  master  his  feelings 
to  the  end  of  the  discourse.  And  the  objects  of  his  indigna- 
tion having  now  withdrawn  themselves  from  his  view,  he  gave 
his  attention,  in  common  with  his  foes,  to  the  operations 
about  to  be  commenced  on  the  house,  being  anxious  to  wit- 
ness the  result,  to  see  to  what  discoveries  it  might  lead,  and 
to  what  new  movements  it  might  give  rise,  among  the  enemy, 
before  retreating  from  the  ground:  nor  had  he  to  wait  long 
for  that  object.  The  new  battering  implement,  when  once 
fairly  placed  upon  the  shoulders  of  the  party  immediately  in 
charge  of  it,  was  borne  round  to  the  front  side  of  the  house, 
where  it  was  transferred  to  the  shoulders  of  those  selected  to 
employ  it  against  the  door.  For  the  next  succeeding  moment, 
as  the  engine  was  being  poised  and  directed  to  the  object  of 
its  aim,  a  breathless  silence  ensued,  broken  only  by  the  sharp 
clicking  of  cocking  rifles,  now  heard  in  every  direction,  while 
the  dark  forms  of  the  enemy  were  seen  slinking  behind  the 
different  objects  of  the  lighted  landscape,  and  protruding  their 
long^  death-commissioned  tubes,  in  readiness  for  the  expected 


344  THE    GREEN    MOUNTAIN   BOYS. 

rush  of  tlie  besieged  from  the  house,  the  instant  the  interior 
should  be  laid  open. 

'''x\ll  ready? — ahead  with  it,  then!"  now  shouted  the  in- 
famous villain  to  whom  the  command  of  the  assaulting  party 
had  been  entrusted — '^ahead  with  it,  as  if  the  devil  drove  it 
on  end!" 

Starting  at  the  word,  the  men  shot  forward  the  butt  end  of 
their  engine  with  a  desperate  effort  towards  its  object.  It 
struck;  and  the  massy  door  flew  nearly  to  the  opposite  wall 
of  the  blazing  interior;  while  the  sides  of  the  fabric,  already 
loosened,  and  about  to  separate  at  the  corners,  from  the  action 
of  the  fire,  after  tottering  a  moment  at  the  violent  jar  im- 
23arted  by  the  blov\%  gradually  swayed  inward,  and  finally  came 
down  in  a  mass  of  red  ruins  over  the  cellar,  sending  up  to  the 
tops  of  the  neighboring  trees,  a  broad  gush  of  flames,  that 
flashed  far  and  wide  over  the  surrounding  wilderness. 

The  enemy,  to  whom  this  result  was  wholly  unexpected, 
looked  on  in  mute  astonishment,  not  unmingled,  apparently, 
with  some  feelings  of  horror^  at  the  terrific  fate,  which  they 
took  for  granted  had  befallen  every  soul  of  the  besieged. 

"The  devil!"  at  length  exclaimed  Sherwood,  awakening 
from  the  stupor  of  the  surprise  into  which  he  seemed  to  have 
been  thrown  by  the  event — "so  they  have  all  gone  to  hell  to- 
gether!" 

"That  don't  follow,  by  a  damned  sight!"  bluntly  replied 
Darrov/. 

"What  do  you  mean  by  that.  Bill?"  asked  the  former,  turn- 
ing hastily,  and  with  an  air  of  concern,  to  his  minion. 

"'They  have  escaped,  Jack!" 

"In  the  name  of  hell,  how?" 

"Don't  know;  but  depend  on't  they  have.  Why,  do  you 
think  them  such  cursed  fools  as  to  stay  there  to  be  roasted 
alive,  when  the  worst  they  could  fear  from  rushing  out,  would 
be  the  ten-fold  preferable  death  by  the  bullet?  ISTever!  I 
tell  you  they  have  found  some  Vv^ay  of  escape — probably  by  a 
drain,  or  passage  from  the  cellar  into  the  woods.  It  began 
to  creep  through  my  hair  some  time  ago,  but  you  were  so  con- 
fident—" 

"Damnation  seize  me  for  a  dolt!"  exclaimed  the  enraged 
leader.  "IIo!  there,  men,  the  game  has  slipped  through  our 
fingers — to  the  woods!  to  the  woods,  for  the  trail!"  he  added, 
springing  forward  himself  to  take  the  lead  in  the  execution  of 


THE    GREEN   MOUNTAIN    BOYS.  34B 

the  order.  And  so  sudden  and  unexpected  was  the  move- 
ment, that  before  Selden  had  become  fairly  aware  of  the  dan- 
gers of  his  situation,  Sherwood  and  Darrow  had  entered  the 
woods  but  a  few  rods  to  the  south,  and  were  rapidly  approach- 
ing the  spot  where  he  stood  concealed.  Deeming  it  impos- 
sible now  to  retreat  from  his  refuge  undetected,  and  thinking 
there  might  be  a  chance  that  they  would  pass  by  without  dis- 
coA^ering  him,  which  would  still  leave  him  time  to  escape  be- 
fore others  of  the  enemy  could  arrive,  he  prepared  his  arms, 
and  silently  awaited  the  approach  of  these  two  deadliest  of 
his  foes.  They  came  nearly  abreast  of  him,  and  were  passing 
by,  when  the  motion  of  his  shadow,  which  was.  cast  by  the 
bright  flames  of  the  burning  pile  across  their  path,  caught 
their  sight,  and  caused  them  to  stop  short.  Turning  round  for 
the  object,  their  eyes  fell  upon  the  other,  and  they  gazed  at 
him  an  instant  in  evident  doubt  and  surprise. 

"The  very  fellow,  by  hell!^^  eagerly  muttered  Darrow,  in 
an  undertone  to  his  companion. 

All  three  simultaneously  raised  their  weapons  and  fired. 
But  in  taking  a  hasty  step  forward,  Selden's  foot,  as  fortunate- 
ly for  him,  perhaps,  as  for  one  of  his  foes,  became  entangled 
in  a  small  bush,  and  in  the  act  of  discharging  his  piece,  he 
fell  to  the  ground.  The  bullets  of  his  foes  whistled  harmless- 
ly over  his  head,  while  his  own,  for  the  same  reason,  missed 
the  object  of  its  aim.  Leaping  forward  in  the  smoke,  the 
desperadoes  both  grappled  with  their  unprepared  antagonist, 
before  he  could  gain  his  footing,  and  throwing  him  back  upon 
the  oTound,  drew  their  knives  to  dispatch  him.  As  Selden 
was  about  to  shut  his  eyes  in  anticipation  of  the  fatal  blow, 
he  caught  a  glimpse  of  the  well  known  figure  of  the  tall  scout, 
coming  with  tremendous  bounds  to  the  spot.  And  the  next 
instant,  Darrow^  as  he  turned,  and  was  starting  up  at  the 
unexpected  apparition,  received  a  blow  over  his  head  and 
shoulders  from  the  clubbed  rifle  of  the  former,  that  sent  him 
reeling  to  the  earth;  while  Sherwood  was  seized  by  the  same 
powerful  hand,  and  dashed  against  a  tree  with  a  force  that 
laid  him  nearly  senseless  by  the  side  of  his  disabled  com- 
panion. 

The  surprise  of  Jones  was  equaled  only  by  his  joy,  as  Sel- 
den, whom  he  supposed  at  least  badly  wounded,  and  whom  he 
was  about  to  grasp  and  bear  off  in  his  arms,  now  sprang  upon 
his  feet  unhurt,  and  drawing  his  rapier,  turned  to  add  the 


^46  THE    GREEN   MOUNTAIN    BOYS. 

finishing  blow  to  his  two  still  prostrate,  but  fast  reviving  an- 
tagonists. 

At  that  instant,  the  shout  of  rallying  foes,  hurrying  to  the 
rescue,  and  already  entering  the  border  of  the  woods,  not 
twenty  yards  distant,  broke  upon  their  ears,  warning  them 
of  the  necessity  of  immediate  liight. 

"By  Moses!  we  must  leg  it.  Captain,"  said  the  scout,  as 
reluctantly  relinquishing  their  object,  they  both  darted  away 
from  the  spot,  and,  throwing  each  a  tree  in  the  range  behind 
him.,  commenced  a  rapid  retreat  towards  the  refuge  they  had 
just  left.  In  another  moment  they  had  reached  the  Creek, 
thrown  themselves  over  the  bank,  entered  the  passage,  and 
were  in  the  embrace  of  their  alarmed  and  anxious  friends, 
while  the  woods  above  were  resounding  with  the  hideous  yells 
of  the  disappointed  foe,  running  about  in  search  of  the  miss- 
ing objects  of  their  rage. 

Our  band,  having  but  little  reason  to  hope  that  their  retreat 
w^ould  now  long  remain  undiscovered,  immediately  set  about 
such  preparations  as  were  deemed  necessary  for  its  defense. 
The  short  timbers,  composing  the  barrier  near  the  mouth  of 
the  passage,  were  more  firmly  secured;  while  convenient  loop- 
holes were  formed  by  raising  some  of  the  upper  timbers,  and 
inserting,  at  intervals,  flat  stones  between  them.  An  efficient 
guard,  with  muskets  and  fixed  bayonets,  were  then  stationed 
at  the  spot,  the  charge  of  which  was  entrusted  to  the  brave 
and  trusty  scout.  This  and  the  other  arrangements  being  com- 
pleted, they  awaited  in  silent  anxiety  the  approaching  crisis 
of  their  fate,  all  intently  listening,  from  the  different  stations 
allotted  them  in  the  rooms,  or  along  the  passages,  for  some 
sound  which  should  indicate  in  what  shape  and  direction  the 
expected  assault  was  to  be  made.  They  were  not  long  in  sus- 
pense. The  sound  of  suppressed  and  eager  voices,  and  cau- 
tiously treading  feet,  fast  gathering  on  the  bank  above,  soon 
apprised  them  that  the  entrance  to  their  retreat  was  discov- 
ered. For  some  time,  however,  the  enemy  seemed  wary  and 
fearful  about  showing  their  persons  in  front  of  the  passage. 
But,  after  appearing  to  listen  awhile,  first  one,  and  then  an- 
other, ventured  out  abreast  of  the  barricade  across  the  pas- 
sage, which  was  situated  about  a  yard  from  its  mouth.  In  the 
meantime  Jones  and  his  men  stood  within,  holding  their 
breath  in  motionless  silence,  with  their  bayonets  in  their  loops, 
and  their  eyes  eagerly  fixed  on  their  marked  victims,  who, 


THE    GREEN   MOUNTAIN   BOYS.  347 

feeling  their  dark  way  with  the  muzzles  of  their  guns,  were 
slowly  and  cautiously  ai^proaching  within  reach  of  the  mur- 
derous blades  of  those  of  whose  dangerous  proximity  they 
were  wholly  unaware.  The  assailants,  now  striking  the  barri- 
cade with  their  guns,  paused,  and  seemed  to  hesitate;  but, 
after  again  listening  a  moment,  they  withdrew  their  pieces, 
and,  coming  up  to  the  timbers,  were  beginning  to  feel  with 
their  hands,  apparently  to  ascertain  the  nature  of  the  obstruc- 
tion; when  the  death-doing  bayonets  were  suddenly  thrust 
forth,  and,  with  horrid  shrieks,  the  pierced  and  recoiling 
wretches  sprang  back,  and  fell  over  with  a  heavy  splash  into 
the  water  below. 

Warned  by  the  fearful  reception  of  their  comrades,  the 
enemy  ventured  not  again  to  appear  before  the  mouth  of  the 
passage,  but  soon  retired  from  the  bank,  and  for  a  long  time 
gave  the  besieged  no  further  cause  of  alarm.  So  profoundly 
still  indeed,  was  all  above,  that  our  little  garrison  at  length 
entertained  a  strong  hope  that  their  assailants,  grovv^n  wise 
by  the  lessons  they  had  already  received,  had  given  up  their 
design,  and  made  a  final  retreat  from  the  place.  The  soldiers 
gradually  relaxed  from  that  stern  and  determined  air  which 
the  exigencies  of  their  situation  had  thrown  over  their  war- 
worn visages,  and  began  to  exchange  the  careless  remark  or 
sportive  jest.  Mrs.  Story,  and  the  other  females,  venturing 
from  their  secluded  refuge,  came  out  into  the  main  room,  to 
hear  from  their  gallant  defenders  a  recital  of  the  various  oc- 
currences of  the  night,  to  the  deadened  and  imperfect  sounds 
of  which  they  had  been  listening  for  many  hours  with  the 
most  painful  anxiety.  These  were  accordingly  narrated.  And 
every  individual  feat  accomplished,  or  peril  encountered,  was 
made  the  theme  of  praise  or  gratulation  to  the  different  actors 
of  the  occasion  I  while  to  wind  up,  Pete  Jones,  with  his  char- 
acteristic waggish  gravity,  displayed  to  the  astonished  ladies 
his  bullet-riddled  coat,  as  a  proof  that  his  case  afforded  a 
climax  to  all  the  hair-breadth  escapes  of  the  night.  As  the 
attention  of  the  company  was  thus  engaged,  and  at  the  instant 
w^hen  the  eyes  of  all,  including  those  set  to  guard  against  the 
descent  of  the  foe  down  the  hollow  stub  before  described, 
were  turned  upon  the  scout,  a  savage  warrior  dropped  silently 
upon  the  hearth,  and  rearing  himself  partially  from  his 
crouching  attitude,  and  throwing  a  keen,  rapid  glance  around 
the  apartment,  glided  swiftly  through  the  assembled  group, 


348  THE    GREEN   MOUNTAIN    BOYS. 

and  darted  into  tlie  dark  passage  leading  into  the  interior 
room^  where  the  children  were  left  unguarded.  So  sudden, 
so  noiseless  and  shadow  like,  had  he  entered,  passed  through 
them,  and  disappeared,  that  few  heeded,  and  still  fewer  be- 
came fully  aware  of  the  character  of  the  apparition.  The 
eagle-eyed  vigilance  of  the  mother  was  not,  however,  thus  to 
he  eluded.  She  caught  a  glimpse  of  the  flitting  form  of  the 
savage,  as  he  entered  the  passage;  and,  with  the  heart-rending 
exclamation,  "My  children!  Oh!  my  children!"  she  sprang 
forward  like  a  maddened  tigress,  and  disappeared  in  the  pas- 
sage after  him. 

"A  light!  follov/  instantly  with  a  light!"  shouted  Selden, 
drawing  his  sword,  and  rushing  into  the  dark  avenue  to  de- 
fend or  rescue  the  frantic  mother  and  her  periled  children 
from  the  deadly  knife  of  their  merciless  foe.  He  had  scarcely 
passed  the  entrance,  however,  before  he  was  met  by  the  in- 
trepid woman,  dragging  back,  with  resistless  force,  the  strug- 
gling savage,  who  had  been  overtaken  while  groping  his  un- 
certain way  onward,  and  seized  round  the  waist  from  behind 
by  the  desperately  grasping  arms  of  his  captor.  He  had  just 
succeeded  in  unsheathing  his  knife,  which  v/as  fiercely  glit- 
tering in  the  light  of  the  advancing  torch,  as  it  rose  and  fell 
in  quickly  repeated,  but,  as  yet,  ineffectual  passes  at  her  body. 
A  glance  sufficed  to  show  the  young  leader  the  imminent  dan- 
ger of  his  unheeding  hostess,  and,  with  the  next  breath,  his 
weapon  was  sent  to  the  hilt  into  the  body  of  the  screeching 
foe. 

"Thank  God!  thank  God!"  hurriedly  ejaculated  the  nearly 
breathless  and  exhausted  woman,  casting  from  her,  with  a 
shudder,  the  gasping  and  gory  corpse,  which,  as  she  now 
turned  and  hastened  back  to  comfort  her  alarmed  but  un- 
touched children,  was  drawn  away,  and  covered  up  in  a  corner. 

AVhile  this  was  taking  place,  Jones  had  placed  a  quantity 
of  the  combustible  material,  already  prepared  for  such  an 
emergenc}^,  in  the  fire-place,  and  applied  the  torch.  And  by 
the  time  Selden  had  taken  breath  after  his  exploit,  so  as  to 
turn  his  attention  to  other  objects,  the  rapidly  kindling 
flames  were  beginning  to  flash  and  roar  along  up  the  cavity 
above. 

"That  was  well  thought  of,  Jones,"  said  the  latter,  ap- 
proaching the  scout,  who  had  dropped  on  one  knee  in  the 
porner  of  the  fire  place,  and  was  intently  listening  to  such 


THE    GREEN    MOUNTAIN    BOYS.  349 

sounds  as  he  could  distinguish  in  the  chimney  above,  amidst 
the  roaring  of  the  fire, — "well  thought  of;  but  what  do  you 
hear  up  chimney?^' 

"Why/^  replied  the  scout,  rising  at  the  approach  of  his  su- 
perior, "I  got  down  there  to  see  if  I  could  find  out  whether 
there  were  any  more  of  these  visitors  coming  down  the  hol- 
low, thinking  that  the  Avay  they  would  scratch  and  scramble 
up  back  again,  when  the  smoke  and  blaze  met  'em,  would  be 
a  curiosity/' 

"And  what  did  you  discover?" 

"Jest  nothing  but  unsartinty.  Though  from  some  noises 
that  reached  me,  I  rather  guess  there  was  one  or  more  of  the 
scamps  at  the  top  of  the  stub,  harking  down,  and  waiting  to 
see  how  the  first  got  on,  before  venturing;  but  that  wan't 
what  I  was  at,  when  you  spoke — ^" 

"Well,  what  was  it,  then?" 

"Why,  I  should  rather  guess  there  was  a  considerable  party 
standing  not  far  from  over  us,  now,  kinder  consulting,  or 
mayhap  waiting  to  have  some  contrivances  made,  as  the  rest 
appear  to  be  at  work  with  their  hatchets  round  in  the  woods 
as  busy  as  the  divil  in  a  gale  of  wind." 

"Ha!   what  now? — felling  trees  upon  us?" 

"No — lighter  work  than  that — and,  I'm  thinking  whether 
it  an't  sharpening  stakes,  or  possibly  hewing  out  wooden  shov- 
els.   But  hush!  hark!" 

Every  voice  was  instantly  hushed  at  the  ominous  words  and 
manner  of  the  scout;  and  as  the  room  became  silent,  the 
sounds  that  had  attracted  his  attention  became  distinctly  audi- 
ble to  the  whole  company:  at  first  was  heard  a  distant  tram- 
pling of  feet,  apparently  approaching  with  slow,  irregular 
movement,  from  all  directions  towards  them.  I^earer  and 
nearer  they  came,  pausing  every  few  steps,  and  stamping 
lieaAdly  upon  the  earth  as  they  continued  gradually  to  close  up 
to  that  portion  of  the  surface  which  extended  over  the  room 
where  our  intrepid  little  band  stood  silently  awaiting  the  re- 
sult of  this  new  movement,  the  object  of  which,  they  soon 
conjectured,  was  to  ascertain,  by  sounding  the  earth  the  exact 
position  of  their  place  of  concealment  before  attempting  to 
dig  or  otherwise  effect  a  breach  through  the  surface.  In  a 
moment  more  the  advancing  lines  reached  the  verge  of  the 
solid  earth,  on  either  side,  and  began  to  step  over  the  boundry 
upon  the  hollow  ground  above  the  room;   when^  seeming  to 


350  THE    GREEN    MOUNTAIN    BOYS. 

become  aware  of  the  fact^  the}^  suddenly  paused^  exchanged  a 
few  words,  and  commenced  a  furious  stamping  over  the  whole 
space  covering  the  excavation  beneath.  As  the  trembling 
earth  gave  back  the  hollow  sounds  thus  affording  unequivocal 
evidence  that  the  place  of  their  search  was  at  length  discov- 
ered, the}^  raised  a  fierce  yell  of  exultation,  and  fell  to  work 
with  their  hatchets,  and  such  rude  implements  as  they  had 
hastily  prepared  for  the  purpose,  in  cutting  away  the  roots, 
and  loosening  and  removing  the  earth  in  such  places  as  they 
had  selected  for  eifecting  openings. 

As  soon  as  it  was  fairly  ascertained  that  the  enemy  had  com- 
menced operations  for  effecting  a  breach  through  the  earth 
above,  our  band,  with  one  consent,  ceased  listening,  and  began 
to  prepare  for  action.  Every  one  seemed  fully  sensible  that  a 
fearful  crisis  was  now  indeed  at  hand,  and  carefully  examin- 
ing their  arms  to  see  that  everything  was  in  readiness  for  in- 
stant action,  they  arranged  themselves  at  the  command  of 
their  leader,  in  lines  around  the  sides  of  the  room,  while,  in 
the  compressed  lip  and  sternly  knitting  brows  of  each,  was 
depicted  the  deeply  breathed  resolution  to  fight  to  the  death 
in  defente*e  of  themselves  and  the  fair  and  tender  ones  whose 
only  hope  was  now  in  their  bravery. 

^^'Give  me  a  place  among  you,"  cried  the  intrepid  widow,  at 
this  moment  emerging  from  the  inner  room,  armed  with  her 
rifle  and  equipped  for  battle,  "give  me  a  place,  and  see  whether 
I  am  the  first  to  desert  the  post  of  danger.'' 

"]3ut  madam,  dear  madam,"  began  to  expostulate  Selden, 
"^'do  you  know  the  peril  that  novv'  awaits  us?  Do  you  hear 
the  sound  of  those  busy  fiends,  belaboring  the  earth  above  to 
break  through  upon  us?  and  there!-  do  you  see  those  frag- 
ments falling  from  that  jarring  and  trembling  ceiling?  Are 
you  aware  that  in  ten  minutes — " 

"I  have  heard  all — I  see  and  know  all,"  interrupted  the 
woman,  in  tones  of  desperate  ealmness;  "I  am  prepared  for 
the  v.^orst.  I  can  never  live  to  see  my  children  murdered  be- 
fore my  eyes.  Here,"  she  continued,  planting  herself  at  the 
entrance  of  the  passage,  "^'here  I  will  remain,  and  if  the  enemy 
enter  here,  it  shall  be  over  my  dead  body.  Nay,  not  a  word, 
Captain  Selden,  I  will  not  l^e  denied." 

At  this  moment  Miss  Hendee  and  Miss  Eeed  glided  past 
the  widow  into  the  room,  and  with  looks  yet  unmoved  by  the 
danger,  which  they  well  understood  now  menaced  every  indi- 


THE    GREEN    MOUNTAIN    BOYS.  351 

vidual  of  the  compan3%  presented  themselves  before  the  ad- 
miring gaze  of  the  soldiers. 

^'Ah!  girls,  you  missed  the  tread  of  your  sentinel,  did  you? 
I  meant  to  have  escaped  you  rmnoticed/'  said  the  widow  with 
a  melancholy  smile. 

"Aware  that  the  hour  decisive  of  the  fate  of  us  all  had  ar- 
rived we  came  to  see  if  we  could  be  of  any  service  here,  or 
elsewhere/'  replied  Alma,  in  a  tirm,  but  serious  tone. 

"God  bless  you,  noble  girls!"  said  Selden,  with  emotion, 
advancing  to  the  side  of  his  lovely  and  heroic  friends.  "God 
bless  you  for  this  fortitude  and  self-sacrificing  bravery." 

"0!  let  me  die  by  your  side,"  murmured  Jessy,  dropping 
her  head  on  Selden's  bosom. 

Touched  by  this  exhibition,  so  gratifying  to  his  feelings  as 
a  lover,  and  to  his  pride  as  a  soldier,  the  hero,  gently  put- 
ting her  from  him,  gazed  an  instant  on  the  slight  symmetrical 
form,  and  the  beautiful  and  soul-speaking  features  of  the  fond 
and  spirited  young  creature  before  him,  with  the  mingled 
look  which  imagination  would  naturally  ascribe  to  a  wor- 
shiper of  the  goddess  beauty,  while  kneeling  at  the  shrine  of 
her  image,  and  proffering  the  strangely  blended  adorations 
which  the  nature  of  that  worship  must  necessarily  have  in- 
spired. 

"1:^0,  no,  Jessy,"  he  at  length  replied,  arousing  himself 
from  the  momentary  entrancement :  "^N'o,  girls,  you  two,  at 
least,  may  not — must  not  remain:  to  say  nothing  of  the  perils 
you  must  encounter,  your  presence  here  might  more  embar- 
rass than  aid  us.  Ketire,  then,  and  trust  to  us,  under  Provi- 
dence, for  your  deliverance." 

"Is  your  father  asleep.  Alma?"  asked  the  widow,  as  the 
young  ladies  were  leaving  the  room. 

"lie  is,"  was  the  reply,  "for,  though  when  he  came  to 
our  room,  and  threw  himself  down  among  the  children  to 
try  to  get  a  little  sleep,  he  desired  me  to  awaken  him  on  the 
occurrence  of  any  new  danger,  I  yet  could  not  find  it  in  my 
heart  to  disturb  him  so  soon." 

"Let  him  be  instantly  awakened,"  said  Selden,  "I  would 
have  his  counsel." 

In  a  few  moments  Captain  Hendee,  who,  nearly  ready  to 
sink  under  the  fatigues  of  the  day,  had  retired  to  the  inner 
room  in  the  interval  of  quiet  which  followed  the  repulse  of 
the  enemy  at  the  western  entrance,  had  made  his  appearance 

23 


852  THE    GREEN    MOUNTAIN    BOYS. 

A  glance  at  the  ceiling,  now  visibly  shaking  in  two  difierent 
places  nnder  the  rapidly  progressing  operations  of  the  foe 
above,  enabled  him,  with  the  hasty  intimations  jnst  imparted 
by  his  daughter,  to  comprehend  at  once  the  situation  of  both 
besiegers  and  besieged. 

^'This  is  a  strait  to  which  I  both  feared  and  expected  we 
should  be  finally  reduced,"  he  remarked  coolly,  after  a  mo- 
mentary pause,  '^but  let  no  man  despair;  I  have  been  in  situ- 
ations more  hopeless  than  this,  and  yet  escaped." 

"We  can  at  least  sell  our  lives  dearly,"  responded  Selden. 

"True,"  replied  the  old  veteran  thoughtfully,  "even  in  the 
method  of  defense  which  I  see,  from  your  arrangement,  you 
propose  to  adopt, — that  of  shooting  the  assailants  as  they 
attempt  to  enter  the  breaches  that  they  may  make.  But  will 
you  be  able  to  thus  repel  them  long?  Every  foot  of  this 
earthy  covering,  which  now  protects  us  from  their  bullets, 
may  be  removed,  or  beat  in  upon  us,  before  we  can  bring  our 
guns  to  bear  upon  them  with  effect.  And  every  surrounding 
tree-top  will,  by  that  time,  conceal  a  foe,  ready  to  send  us 
death  from  above;  while  fire-brands  and  combustibles  will 
be  hurled  down  upon  us  by  those  remaining  on  the  ground. 
And  if  we  retreat  into  our  narrow  passages,  as  we  must,  the 
same  game  will  follow  us  there." 

"All  these  hazards.  Captain  Hendee,"  replied  the  young 
leader,  "I  am  fully  aware  we  may  encounter.  But  what  other 
mode  of  defense  can  we  adopt? — A  sally  from  the  western 
entrance,  which  is  now  doubtless  closely  guarded  by  the 
enemy,  with  the  expectation  that  we  shall  soon  be  driven  to 
make  it,  must  prove  fatal  to  all  who  shall  attempt  it;  while 
the  entrance  at  the  other  end  of  the  passage  is  blocked  up  by 
a  red  mass  of  burning  ruins.  What  other  expedient,  then,  is 
left  for  us?" 

"I  had  thought  of  one,"  said  Captain  Hendee,  with  some 
hesitation.  "I  had  thought  of  one,  as  our  last  resort,  in  an 
emergency  like  this.  It  may  not  be  without  risk  to  ourselves, 
I  am  aware,  but,"  he  continued  with  fiercely  flashing  eyes,  "but 
it  must  be  swift  destruction  to  the  accursed  gang  above,  who 
are  thirsting  for  our  blood!" 

"In  the  name  of  Heaven,  declare  it,  then!"  eagerly  cried 
Selden,  casting  an  uneasy  glance  at  some  fresh  demonstra- 
tions of  the  progress  of  the  foe  in  the  covering  above. 

"I  will — here,  this  way,"  replied  the  former,  as,  stepping 


THE    GREEN    MOUNTAIN   BOYS.  853 

across  the  room,  lie  opened  the  concealed  recess  in  the  wall, 
and  disclosed  the  widow's  magazine  to  the  wondering  gaze  of 
Selden  and  his  men,  who,  ignorant  of  its  existence,  did  not 
at  once  understand  the  nature  of  its  contents,  or  perceive  the 
old  gentleman's  object  in  displaying  it.  ^'There!"  he  added, 
significantly,  pointing  to  the  heads  of  the  casks  thus  brought 
to  view,  "there,  that  explains  my  plan." 

"How?  What  do  those  barrels  contain?"  rapidly  demand- 
ed Selden,  with  the  varying  expression  of  doubt,  surprise,  and 
alarm. 

"Gunpowder!"  was  the  emphatic  reply. 

"Good  God!  Captain  Hendee,  do  you  consider  our  case  so 
desperate,  that,  Samson-like,  we  should  all  perish  with  our 
foes?" 

"It  does  not  follow  that  we  shall  perish  with  them.  I  have 
seen  somewhat  of  the  operation  of  exploding  mines,  and  can- 
not believe  that  the  effects  in  the  proposed  one  can  reach 
far  into  that  winding  passage,  to  the  further  end  of  which,  if 
thought  safer  than  the  inner  room,  we  can  all  repair." 

"ril  be  blest  if  I  don't  think  the  old  thrash-the-devil  is 
about  riglit,  Captain  Selden,"  exclaimed  Pete  Jones,  leaping 
about,  and  snapping  his  fingers  in  great  glee.  "Jest  place 
them  in  that  corner  beyond  the  fire  there,  and  it  must  be  a 
sort  of  powder  that  I'm  not  much  acquainted  with,  if  it  turns 
at  a  right  angle  very  far  into  that  passage  after  mischief. 
Well,  now,  the  Lord  be  thanked  for  putting  this  into  your 
noddle,  old  friend.  I  had  about  agreed  to  say  gone  dogs 
for  us  all,  but  now  I  can  see  a  considerable  sprinkling  of  hope 
through  them  barrels  of  thunder  yonder." 

"And  you,  Mrs.  Storv,  whose  stake  is  the  greatest  in  the  re- 
sult," said  Selden,  turning  to  the  widow,  after  hastily  run- 
ning his  eye  over  the  different  parts  of  the  room,  as  if  calcu- 
lating the  probable  extent  to  which  the  explosion  would  affect 
the  earth  laterally — what  do  you  say  to  the  measure?" 

"I  don't  know — I  don't  know,"  replied  the  distressed  moth- 
er, who  had  been  mutely  listening  to  the  startling  proposi- 
tion, in  a  sort  of  wild  amazement.  "The  work  of  the  element 
will  be  terrific — perhaps  fatal  to  us — but  the  work  of  the  ex- 
asperated foe,  unless  thus  destroyed,  will  be,  I  fear,  for  all  we 
can  do,  no  less  dreadful.  I  leave  it  to  you,  and  may  God 
direct  the  course  which  shall  be  for  our  good,"  she  added, 
with  a  shudder, 

23 


354  THE   GREEN   MOUNTAIN   BOYS. 

^^It  is  a  fearful  experiment,  but  it  shall  be  tried/'  said  the 
young  leader,  turning  away  to  begin  the  required  arrangement. 

At  that  instant  a  large  fragment  of  earth  was  suddenly  rup- 
tured from  the  ceiling,  and  fell  heavily  to  the  floor,  scatter- 
ing dirt  in  every  direction  around,  and  disclosing  in  the  place 
from  which  it  had  been  detached,  the  point  of  a  huge  sharp- 
ened stake,  protruding  several  inches  into  the  room;  while 
the  wild  and  exultant  shouting  of  the  foe  above,  as  the  stake 
was  drawn  up,  and  the  redoubled  fury  with  which  they  re- 
newed their  exertions,  all  loudly  warned  our  band  that  there 
was  no  time  to  be  lost  in  preparing  for  the  execution  of  their 
purpose. 

"Clear  the  room,  instantly!"  cried  Selden,  in  low,  but 
startling  accents,  '^back!  back!  every  man  of  you,  but  Jones, 
to  the  further  end  of  the  passage — no  remonstrance — no  of- 
fers!" he  continued,  as  urging  them  with  drawn  sword  from 
the  room,  several  began  to  persuade  him  to  permit  them  to 
incur  the  hazard  of  exploding  the  fatal  mine,  "not  a  word  I 
the  jnatch  shall  be  applied  by  my  own  hand:" 

As  soon  as  the  room  was  fairly  cleared,  Selden  turned,  and, 
with  rapid  steps,  proceeded  to  the  recess,  drew  forth  the  bar- 
rels, and,  carrying  them  to  the  comer  opposite  to  the  entrance 
of  the  inner  passage,  placed  them  firml}^  and  pulled  out  the 
bungs,  allowing  a  quantity  of  the  powder  to  run  out  from  each 
on  to  the  ground.  He  then  laid  a  small  continuous  tra'in 
of  dry  powder,  extending  from  the  barrels  across  the  room 
into  the  entrance  in  question;  while  the  scout,  by  his  orders, 
after  having  removed  the  lights  to  a  safe  distance,  wet  a  cart- 
ridge from  the  contents  of  his  canteen,  and  hastily  converted 
it  into  a  slow  match,  to  apply  to  the  end  of  the  train. 

"There!  now  leave  the  rest  to  me,  Jones;  take  care  of 
yourself,  and  see  that  the  passage  is  kept  clear  for  my  re- 
treat," said  the  leader,  receiving  a  torch  which  was  brought 
him  by  the  other,  and  taking  his  station  to  await  the  fearful 
moment  of  firing  the  train. 

The  enemy,  in  the  meantime,  were  making  rapid  progress. 
Two  breaches  were  already  made  through  the  earth  into  the 
room,  and  these,  as  was  evinced  by  the  almost  constant  fall- 
ing of  heavy  masses  of  dirt,  were  every  moment  widening; 
while  from  the  trampling  of  feet,  all  gathering  up  to  the  spot, 
the  mingled  shouts,  curses,  and  commands  of  the  infuriated 
gang  and  their  leaders,  it  was  obvious  that  an  attempt  to  de- 


THE    GREEN    MOUNTAIN    E0Y3.  S55 

scend  was  about  to  be  made.  At  this  moment,  they  seemed 
to  perceive  that  the  besieged  had  deserted  their  room,  and 
retreated  further  into  the  earth.  Grown  madly  desperate  by 
being  already  so  long  bafiled  and  doubly  infuriated  by  the 
discovery  that  their  intended  victims  had  still  a  further  refuge, 
they  were  now  heard  hastily  throwing  aside  their  tools  and 
resuming  their  arms  preparatory  to  entering  the  breach  to 
follow  up  the  pursuit,  little  dreaming,  in  the  hellish  joy  of 
their  anticipated  revenge,  that  the  torch  was  even  then  sus- 
pended over  the  train,  and  waiting  only  their  first  movement, 
to  send  them,  in  an  instant,  with  all  the  passions  of  fiends 
raging  in  their  bosoms,  unannealed  into  the  presence  of  their 
God.  But  while  the  foe-trampled  earth  was  jarring  to  the 
hideous  tumult  above,  the  silence  of  death  prevailed  through 
the  hushed  vaults  beneath.  The  agitated  mother  was  breath- 
ing hurried  ejaculations  over  her  clasped  children.  And 
near  her  might  be  seen  the  huddling  forms  of  her  shuddering 
female  companions,  with  their  fair  hands  tightly  compressed 
over  both  ears  and  eyes,  as  if  to  shut  out  from  their  recoiling 
senses  the  noise  of  the  now  momentarily  expected  explosion; 
while  the  men  in  the  dark  passage  beyond,  stood  motionless 
and  silent,  listening  in  the  attitude  of  intensely  excited  ex- 
pectation for  the  awful  denouement.  Selden,  in  the  mean- 
while, hesitating  between  his  fears  that  the  train  would  get 
disturbed  by  the  entrance  of  the  foe  into  the  room,  and  his 
anxiety  to  have  the  band  gather  over,  or  so  closely  around  it, 
as  to  bring  them  all  within  the  reach  of  the  explosion,  still 
held  the  torch  suspended  in  his  extended  hand  over  the  train, 
now  lowering  the  point  of  the  low  flickering  brand  nearly  to 
a  contact  with  the  powder,  at  some  indication  of  the  expected 
descent,  and  now  hastily  withdrawing  it,  as  other  and  less 
decisive  sounds  reached  his  ear.  His  hesitation,  however,  was 
soon  ended:  at  that  instant,  a  loud  j^ell  at  the  western  en- 
trance, and  the  sounds  of  thickly-trampling  feet  that  followed, 
told  him  that  the  enemy  had  forced  the  barrier  at  the  end 
of  that  passage,  and  were  rushing  into  the  room;  while  an- 
other hurra  from  the  tories  above,  and  the  heavy,  and  quickly 
repeated  jar  of  feet  striking  upon  the  floor,  which  accom- 
panied it,  further  announced  that  the  latter  were  beginnins^ 
to  leap  down  the  breaches  to  join  the  former  in  the  assault. 
At  this  critical  instant,  and  before  the  mingled  war-cry  of 
the  savage  and  tory  had  died  away  in  the  echoing  vaults  be- 


356  THE    GREEN    MOUNTAIN    BOYS. 

yond  him,  tlie  young  leader  applied  the  brand  to  the  fuse, 
and  rapidly  retreated  along  the  passage  towards  his  friends. 
Having  reached  the  curtained  recess  containing  the  women 
and  children,  and  here  encountering  Captain  Hendee  and 
Jones,  he  turned  round,  and  with  them  awaited,  with  palpi- 
tating heart  and  suspended  breath,  the  fearful  result.  With 
the  low,  hissing  sound  of  the  slowly  burning  match,  came  a 
cry  of  horror  from  the  scrambling  foe,  over  whose  minds,  now 
for  tlie  first  time,  seemed  to  flash  the  dreadful  truth.  But 
too  late.  The  next  instant,  with  a  concussion  that  almost 
threw  Selden  and  his  companions  from  their  feet,  the  earth 
yawned  and  opened  along  the  passage  overhead  nearly  to  the 
si:>ot  where  they  stood;  when  through  the  long  vibrating 
chasm,  was  displayed  to  their  appalled  vision,  the  broad  space 
of  tree-covered  earth  over  and  around  the  room  beyond,  leap- 
ing, in  disrupturing  masses,  into  the  air,  along  with  the  di- 
verging column  of  fiercely  shooting  smoke  and  flame,  in  which 
were  seen,  commingling  with  rocks,  earth,  and  the  limbs  and 
trunks  of  uprooted  and  swiftly  revolving  trees,  a  score  of 
human  forms,  wildly  throwing  out  their  arms,  as  if  for  aid, 
and  distending  their  mouths  with  unheard  screeches,  as,  with 
blackened  and  distorted  features,  and  dissevering  limbs,  they 
were  borne  upwards  with  amazing  force  in  the  flaming  mass 
to  the  heavens.  The  chasm  slowly  closed  over  the  astounded 
but  unharmed  band,  and  shut  out  from  their  reeling  senses 
the  deafening  din  that  was  breaking  in  crashing  thunders 
above.  A  momentary  stillness  ensued;  when  the  returning 
shower  of  ruins  came  thundering  to  the  earth;  after  which, 
all  again  relapsed  into  a  death-like  and  unbroken  silence. 


Once  more  the  morning  light  was  springing  in  the  golden 
chambers  of  the  east,  heralding  the  approach  of  the  fiery 
coursers  of  the  day-god  up  the  glowing  pathway  of  the  sky. 
More  and  more  brightly  broke  the  suffusing  radiance  over  the 
mountains,  darkly  gleaming  at  first,  upon  the  quiet  surface 
of  the  gently  flowing  Otter,  and  then,  gradually  lighting  up, 
one  after  another,  the  bolder  features  of  the  altered  landscape, 
till  the  whole  scene  of  the  last  night's  thrilling  drama,  and 
its  awful  catastrophe,  stood  revealed  to  the  sight.  The  hum- 
ble tenement  of  the  lone  widow,  which  the  last  setting  sun  left 


THE    GREEN   MOUNTAIN    BOYS.  357 

standing  unmolested,  in  her  toil-wrought  opening  in  the 
wilderness,  had  disappeared;  and  in  its  place  lay  a  pile  of 
black  and  smouldering  ruins.  Fences  w^ere  thrown  down 
and  scattered  in  every  direction;  while  the  growing  crops  in 
the  fields  around,  reared  by  the  hard  labors  of  the  indefati- 
gable occupant,  and  constituting  her  sole  dependence  for  the 
future  sustenance  of  her  numerous  family,  were  scorched 
and  withered  by  the  falling  cinders  thrown  up  from  the 
burning  house,  or  prostrated  and  beat  into  the  earth  by  the 
trampling  feet  of  reckless  foes.  The  breath  of  war  had,  in- 
deed, passed  over  everything,  and  her  little  all,  in  one  short 
night,  had  perished. 

is'ear  the  banks  of  the  stream,  where  stood  a  thick  growth  of 
trees,  over  and  around  the  main  apartment  of  the  subter- 
raneous abode,  now  yawned  a  huge,  black  chasm  in  the 
ground,  in  which  scarcely  a  trace  of  the  late  regular  room 
was  discernible;  while  the  burnt  and  discolored  bark  and 
foliage,  marking  the  standing  forest  around,  and  the  broken, 
splintered  and  uprooted  trees,  which  had  been  hurled  out- 
ward and  prostrated  with  the  earth  for  many  rods  in  every 
direction  from  the  spot,  and  which  were  now  Mng  strewed 
over  the  ground  in  wdld  disorder,  intermingled  with  smoking 
rubbish,  all  told  the  fearful  power  and  extent  of  the  terrific- 
explosion.  Half  buried  among  the  wide  scattered  ruins  lay 
the  torn,  mangled  and  blackened  corpses  of  savage  and  tory, — • 
the  fated  victims  of  the  mine,  which  had  so  suddenly,  so  un- 
expectedly sprung  beneath  their  feet,  sweeping  them,  in  an 
instant,  indiscriminately  away,  with  the  cries  of  anticipated 
victory  and  vengeance  on  their  lips,  like  chaff  in  a  whirlwind 
of  fire. 

As  the  increasing  daylight  began  to  fall  more  broadly  upon 
this  scene  of  death  and  desolation,  two  human  forms  might 
have  been  seen  cautiously  breaking  through  the  loose  earth 
that  closed  up  the  mouth  of  the  long  passage  into  which  our 
little  band  last  retreated.  The  small,  topling  head,  crane-like 
neck,  long  body  and  limbs,  and  the  peculiarly  rapid  and 
shambling  movements  of  the  one,  as  now  crouching,  now  rear- 
ing his  tall  form  aloft,  and  throwing  quick  and  wary  glances 
around  him,  he  glided  round  beneath  the  sides  of  the  broad, 
black  pit  into  which  they  had  emere^ed,  sufficiently  announced 
him  as  the  incomparable  scout.  The  swarthy  and  immovable 
features,  the  short  figure,  and  deliberate  air  of  the  other,  pro- 


358  THE    GREEN    MOUNTAIN    BOYS. 

claimed  Mm  also  to  be  an  old  acquaintance  of  the  reader,  the 
trusty  and  faithful  ISTeshobee.  Creeping  out  of  the  exca- 
vation, the  two  separated  and  quickly  disappeared  in  opposite 
directions  in  the  woods  and  bushes  along  the  banks  of  the 
Creek.  After  the  lapse  of  half  an  hour,  in  which  they  had 
apparently  made  a  reconnoitering  circuit  round  the  opening, 
they  reappeared  on  the  banks  of  the  excavation,  communed 
a  moment,  and,  throwing  aside  the  air  of  caution  that  had 
marked  their  movements,  approached,  with  bold  and  confi- 
dent steps,  towards  the  choked  entrance,  through  which  they 
had  forced  their  way  into  the  open  air. 

^•Hurra,  there,  below!"  shouted  Pete,  dropping  on  one  knee, 
and  poking  his  head  and  long  neck  into  the  dark  hole  before 
him,  "hurra!  ye  poor,  half  smuddered  divils — asking  the 
Captain's  pardon  for  the  freedom — do  you  hear?" 

"Ay,  ay!  what  report — what  news  from  the  regions  above?" 
responded  several  voices  from  the  dark,  and,  till  then,  silent 
recesses  within. 

"The  coast  is  as  clear  as  a  hound's  tooth,"  replied  the  scout. 
"Yes,  all  clear,  and  that,  too,  with  what  I  should  call  a  con- 
siderable of  a  vengeance:  so  just  troop  along  out  here,  and 
see  what  G-od  put  it  into  men's  heads  to  make  gunpowder  for." 

This  announcement  seemed  to  produce  an  instant  effect.  A 
lively  bustle  was  immediately  heard  among  the  party  below. 
And  in  a  few  moments  more,  the  men,  followed  by  the  women 
and  children,  came  creeping,  one  by  one,  from  their  crowded 
and  uncomfortable  retreat,  looking  worn,  haggard,  and  pale 
from  fatigue,  and  more  especially  from  the  want  of  fresh  air, 
with  which  they  had  but  imperfectly  supplied  themselves  by 
digging,  with  their  bayonets,  small  holes  through  the  earthy 
covering  of  their  refuge,  to  the  surface  above.  After  reach- 
ing the  open  air,  the  compan}^  stood  a  moment  on  the  banks  of 
the  chasm,  viewing,  in  silent  horror,  the  awful  spectacle  that 
was  here  presented  to  their  sight:  when,  at  the  suggestion  of 
Selden,  the  females,  accompanied  by  himself  and  all  but  the 
common  soldiers  (who  were  busy  in  searching  for  guns  and 
other  spoils  among  the  ruins),  hastened  to  leave  a  scene  so 
revolting  to  the  senses.  And  making  the  best  of  their  way 
over  the  tangled  mass  that  everywhere  encircled  the  spot, 
with  many  a  shudder  at  the  disfigured,  and  sometimes  limb- 
less bodies  of  the  slain,  for  which  they  were  often  compelled 


THE    GREEN    MOUNTAIN    BOYS.  '  359 

to  turn  aside  in  their  route,  they  proceeded  towards  the  open 
grounds  in  front  of  the  site  lately  occupied  by  the  house. 

"Umph!  look!  jus  look  um  up  there!"  exclaimed  Nesho- 
bee,  eagerly  pointing  up  the  trunk  of  a  large  dry  hemlock, 
which,  standing  some  half  dozen  rods  from  the  seat  of  the 
explosion,  the  company  were  unobservantly  passing. 

Arrested  by  the  unusually  excited  manner  of  the  Indian, 
the  whole  party  suddenly  paused,  and  looked  upward  in  search 
of  the  object  to  which  he  was  so  earnestly  directing  their  at- 
tention. About  half-way  up  the  tree,  the  doubling  body  of  a 
man  hung  dangling  in  the  air,  from  a  short,  pointed  limb, 
upon  which  he  had  evidently  been  thrown  from  the  earth, 
and  literally  impaled  through  the  middle,  by  the  force  of  the 
explosion.  His  cadaverous  face  was  turned  full  towards  the 
company,  and  a  glance  at  the  peculiar  cast  of  his  death-set 
features,  explained,  at  once,  to  Captain  Hendee  and  the  girls, 
the  cause  of  the  wild  and  gleeful  interest  manifested  by  the 
native;  it  was  the  traitor,  Remington,*  who  first  betrayed  the 
family  to  their  enemies,  and  who  was  afterwards  discovered 
to  be  in  full  league  with  Sherwood  and  Darrow,  and,  to  the 
last,  in  active  co-operation  with  them,  in  the  black  designs 
which  they  supposed  themselves  on  the  eve  of  accomplishing, 
when  thus  awfully  arrested  in  their  guilty  career.  Awe-struck 
and  appalled  at  the  strange  and  dreadful  fate  of  the  villain, 
the  company,  with  one  consent,  turned  away  from  the  sicken- 
ing sight,  and,  hastening  from  the  spot,  pursued  their  way 
in  thoughtful  silence,  till  they  had  passed,  as  they  sup- 
posed, beyond  the  scene  of  these  multiplied  horrors.  An- 
other trial,  however,  though  of  a  different  and  mingled  char- 
acter, still  awaited  them:  a  deep  groan,  issuing  from  a  small 
covert  on  their  left,  now  reached  their  ears,  and  caused  theui 
again  to  pause  in-  their  steps. 

^'Tt  is  a  human  groan,"  said  Selden,  "and  doubtless  that  of 
some  poor  wounded  wretch,  who  has  crawled  away  from  the 
scene  of  action.  Perhaps  his  life  may  yet  be  saved,"  he 
added,  as,  beckoning  to  Jones,  he  promptly  set  out  for  the 
place  from  vrhich  the  sound  had  proceeded.  As  the  two 
passed  round  to  the  spot,  they  discovered  a  man  l,ving  in  a 
state  of  almost  utter  exhaustion  in  the  woods  behind  a  long 

*  The  last  of  this  tory  family,  consisting  of  several  brothers,  I 
^m  inforpied  was  sent  to  the  state  prisiom,  a  few  years  ago, 


860  THE    GREEN    MOUNTAIN    BOYS. 

log,  by  which  he  had  apparently  been  arrested  in  his  course 
while  trying  to  reach  a  small  brook  a  few  rods  beyond.  His 
face,  with  every  other  exposed  part  of  his  person,  was  thickly 
besmeared  with  dirt,  gunpowder  and  blood,  which  last  was 
still  freshly  oozing  from  his  mangled  and  broken  legs;  and 
it  was  only  by  his  hair,  and  the  remains  of  his  burnt  and  tat- 
tered dress,  that  he  could  be  distinguished  as  a  white  man. 
He  seemed  to  be  aware  of  the  presence  of  others,  and  the 
lips  began  to  move  with  some  inaudible  request. 

'•The  poor  creature  is  begging  for  water,"  said  Selden,  low- 
ering his  ear  over  the  face  of  the  invalid;  ''let  us  remove  him 
to  the  brook." 

Eaising  him  carefully  in  their  arms,  they  accordingly  bore 
him  to  the  bank  of  the  rivulet,  and  having  placed  him  in  a 
sitting  position,  with  his  back  against  a  large  stump,  they 
applied  a  gourd-shell  of  water  to  his  lips,  of  which  he  drank 
eagerly  and  deeply.  They  then  washed  the  blood  and  dirt 
from  his  face,  when  he  considerably  revived;  and,  opening 
his  eyes,  he  looked  up  in  evident  surprise  on  our  party,  all 
of  whom,  having  gathered  round  him,  now  stood  viewing  his 
gory  and  lacerated  limbs  in  silent  commiseration. 

"Why!  it  is  Darrow — the  wretched  and  guilty  Darrow!" 
exclaimed  Miss  Hendee,  starting  back  in  surprise,  and  with  an 
expression  of  mingled  pit}"  and  abhorrence. 

"Ay,  guilty  enough,  doubtless,"  responded  Selden,  "but  as 
deeply  dyed  in  guilt  as  he  is,  there  is  another  still  more  guil- 
ty— wretched  man,  what  has  become  of  your  master?" 

"He  escaped  unhurt  from  your  accursed  mine,"  feebly  mut- 
tered the  wounded  ruffian  in  reply. 

"And  has  fled?"  asked  the  former.   - 

"Yes,  fled  like  a  craven  brute,"  said  the  other,  with  an  angry 
scowl;  "fled  with  the  few  who  were  as  lucky  as  himself,  leav- 
ing me  and  the  rest  of  the  wounded,  with  our  cries  for  as- 
sistance ringing  in  his  ears,  to  die  like  dogs,  alone  here  in 
the  woods.  And  they  have  died — some  of  their  wounds,  some 
by  crawling  into  the  river  and  drowning,  and  some  by  plung- 
ing their  knives  into  their  own  bodies,  to  put  themselves  out 
of  misery.     Yes,  all  gone,  but  me;   and  I — " 

"But  perhaps  3'Our  leader  went  off  after  a  reinforcement, 
expecting  soon  to  return  with  better  means  of  serving  you," 
interrupted  Selden,  with  the  view  of  gathering  from  the  other 


THE    GREEN    MOUNTAIN    BOYS,  361 

sucTi  information  as  would  enable  him  to  judge  of  the  prob- 
ability of  Sherwood's  return  to  renew  the  attack. 

"jN"o,  damn  him!"  exclaimed  the  wretch  bitterl}^  "he  sup- 
posed, as  I  did,  that  all  of  your  band,  as  well  as  most  of  our 
own,  had  perished  in  the  explosion.  No!  the  infernal  vil- 
lain intended  I  should  die,"  he  continued,  with  an  expression 
rendered  f  airl}^  diabolical  with  rage,  combined  with  the  bodily 
anguish  he  was  enduring.  "But  he  did  not  dream  I  should 
fall  alive  into  your  hands,  else  he  had  finished  me  on  the  spot 
to  prevent  it,  the  black-souled  devil!  for  he  is  well  aware 
that  I  know  enough  of  him,  and  his  father  before  him,  to 
make  my  revenge  as  ample  as  it  will  be  svv  eet." 

"What  do  you  laiow  of  his  father?"  asked  Captain  Hen- 
dee,  stepping  forward,  with  looks  of  eager  curiosity  and  in- 
terest. 

"Enough/'  replied  the  other — "enough  of  both,  to  my 
sorrow;  for,  between  them^  they  have  worked  my  ruin  and 
death.  In  aiding  the  old  man  in  his  villainy,  I  damned  my 
soul;  and  in  abetting  that  of  his  son,  I  have  lost  my  life; 
for  I  feel  that  I  must  go  now  soon,  though  I  might  have  been 
saved.  Yes,  and  what  have  they  done  for  me?  what  can 
they  do  now?  Nothing!  The  old  man  has  gone  to  his  place; 
and  Jake — perdition  seize  him!" 

"What  do  you  mean?"  sharply  demanded  the  Captain.  "Is 
John  Sherwood  dead?  ^Vh}^,  Jake  told  me,  before  he  turned 
devil  to  us,  and  not  more  than  a  week  since,  neither,  that  his 
father  was  alive  and — ^" 

"And  what  if  he  did?"  interrupted  Darrow,  growing  rest- 
less and  impatient  from  the  pain,  which  was  now  evidently 
beginning  to  invade  the  citadel  of  life — "what  if  he  did? 
The  old  man  made  a  will — too  much  in  favor  of  your  daugh- 
ter here,  or  you,  he  suspects — and  all  was  to  be  kept  dark  till 
he  could  bring  certain  things  about." 

"Man,  man,  you  are  deceiving  me!"  cried  the  other,  warmly. 

"Father,  I  believe  he  is  speaking  the  truth,"  interposed  the 
daughter,  to  whose  mind  the  late  conduct  of  Sherwood,  be- 
fore inexplicable,  was  now  explained. 

"Truth — truth!  Alma  Hendee,"  resumed  the  wounded  man 
now  breathing  thick,  and  speaking  with  increasing  difficul- 
ty;— "it  is  only  the  beginning  of  truths,  that  concern  you 
all,  that — that  I  could — that  I  must  and  will  tell,  if — if  soul 
and  body  will  hold  together  long  enough  for  me  to  expose — ^' 


S62  THE   GREEN   MOUNTAIN   BOYS. 

"Expose  what? — what  can  you  reveal? — go  on! — speak — 
speak  !'^  exclaimed  the  old  gentleman^  impatiently  breaking 
in  on  the  other,  in  a  tone  and  air  of  feverish  excitement. 

"Wait — wait/'  resumed  Darrow,  grating  his  clenched  teeth, 
and  writhing  about  in  a  fresh  paroxysm  of  anguish — "I  will — 
will  tell  all — but  wait  till  this  is  over — 0,  that  pain!  0!  God! 
that  pain,  that  pain!''  and  the  poor  wretch  gasped  for  breath, 
and  wildly  threw  about  his  arms  in  the  insufferable  pangs  of 
his  agony. 

"Captain  Hendee/'  he  faintly,  and  in  a  softened  tone,  re- 
sumed, after  the  desperate  paroxysm  had  subsided,  "did  you 
ever  mistrust  that  John  Sherwood  played  you  foul  in  re- 
spect to  your  property,  which  3^ou  was  blind  enough  to  intrust 
to  his  management?" 

"Why,  I  thought  strange,"  replied  the  other,  "and  yet  I 
could  not  detect — but  was  he  dishonest,  then?" 

"Yes,"  exclaimed  Darrow;  "in  that  final  settlement,  he  de- 
frauded you  out  of  more  than  half  of  what  was  honestly 
your  own:  and  in  the  main  instance,  you  recollect  a  large 
landed  lawsuit  he  brought  in  your  behalf?" 

"I  do,"  said  the  Captain;  ''and  finding  he  must  fail  in  it, 
and  subject  me  to  ruinous  costs,  he  compromised,  by  paying  a 
small  sum,  and  withdrew  the  action,  as  I  understood." 

"Well,  now,  it  is  God's  truth,  Captain,"  rejoined  the  former, 
"that  instead  of  paying  anything  he  received  a  large  sum — his 
adversary,  and  not  he,  finding  he  must  fail." 

"The  faithless  villain!"  exclaimed  the  astonished  Captain, 
"may  the  wrath — but  I  will  not  curse  him,  now  he  is  gone." 

"No;  for  you  can  revenge  yourself  more  effectually,"  said 
the  other:  "the  man  with  whom  this  compromise  was  made 
is  still  alive,  and  though  it  was  agreed  that  the  transaction 
should  be  kept  a  dead  secret,  there  is  no  doubt  he  will  swear  to 
the  amount  he  paid  Sherwood,  as  he  was  not  privy  to  the  fraud 
on  you." 

"But  how  know  you  all  this?"  asked  the  Captain,  some  new 
doubt  seeming  to  arise  in  his  mind. 

"You  will  know  directly,"  replied  Darrow — "that  is,  if — if 
I  tell  you  the  rest" — he  continued,  pausing  and  hesitating, 
as  if  irresolute  whether  to  proceed;  but  at  length  seeming 
to  make  up  his  mind,  he  resumed,  "Captain  Hendee,  you  once 
had  a  darling  son,  who  was  lost?" 

"I  did,  I  did,"  responded  the  other  with  visible  emotion. 


THE    GREEN    MOUNTAIN    BOYS.  363 

^^And  you  have  liearcl/'  continued  the  former,  '^that  he  was 
last  seen  with  a  young  man  in  John  Sherwood's  employ — did 
you  ever  see  that  young  man  ?*' 

"No,"  said  the  Captain,  "nor  do  I  know  what  became  of 
him,  or  whether  he  is  now  living." 

"He  is  still  living,  but  will  not  be  long,"  said  Darrow;  "you 
see  him  in  the  miserable,  shattered,  and  dying  creature  lying 
before  you.  Captain  Hendee." 

"You!  you!"  wildly  and  fiercely  exclaimed  the  old  man, 
^^ut  what  of  my  son?  wretch!  did  you  murder  the  boy?"  he 
added,  raising  his  voice  almost  to  a  frantic  scream,  as  the  sus- 
picion flashed  over  his  anticipating  thoughts. 

"No,  I  was  spared  that,"  answered  the  other,  "though  my 
instigator,  who  was  no  other  than  the  same  John  Sherwood, 
expected  it  of  me,  I  think.  No,  I  came  across  an  Indian,  who, 
for  a  bottle  of  rum,  was  willing  to  take  the  boy  where  his 
friends  should  never  hear  of  him  again." 

"And  you  agreed  with  the  hell-hound  to  do  it,  did  you, 
monster!"  again  fiercely  demanded  the  Captain. 

"Yes,  I  did  that — I  own  it!  I  own  it!  aye,  I  confess  it!" 
exclaimed  Darrow,  eagerly  repeating  the  words,  as  if  he  had 
brought  himself  to  this  act  of  penitence  by  some  mighty  ef- 
fort. "There!"  he  added,  wildly  and  menacingly  brandishing 
his  fist  at  some  imaginary  presence,  as  he  began  to  draw  up 
his  limbs  and  glare  deliriously  around  him  under  another 
and  fearful  attack  of  his  pains,  "there!  I  have  confessed  it,  you 
black  fiend!"  and  with  a  terrible  yell  of  seeming  exultation 
and  defiance,  he  fell  back  convulsed  from  head  to  foot;  and  for 
many  moments,  he  appeared  to  be  wrestling  terribly  with  the 
angel  of  death. 

At  length,  however,  he  became  calm,  and  again  opened  his 
eyes  upon  the' horror-stricken,  but  intensely  interested  com- 
pany. 

"I  can't  live  through  another  like  that — so  let  me  speak 
while  I  can — you  would  know  more  of  your  son  ?"  faintly  said 
the  reviving  wretch,  turning  his  glazed  and  blood-shot  eye 
languidly  upon  the  Captain. 

"Yes,  yes,"  replied  the  other  in  a  softened  and  imploring 
tone,  ^^yes,  if  you  have  strength  to  go  on,  tell  me,  if  you 
know,  for  God's  sake  tell  me,  whether  there  is  any  hope  for  a 
bereaved  and  sorrow-stricken  old  man? — Did  you  ever  bear  of 
the  boy — do  you  think  he  is  still  living?" 


364  THE    GREEN   MOUNTAIN   BOYS. 

"If  that  boy  lived  to  grow  up/^  said  Darrow,  in  reply, — "if 
he  be  still  among  the  living,  Captain  Hendee,  I  believe  he  is 
now  standing  by  your  side/^ 

Wholly  unprepared  for  a  development  so  unexpected  and 
improbable,  the  company  stood  silently  gazing  at  each  other  a 
moment  with  looks  of  mingled  doubt  and  astonishment;  when 
Selden,  who  was  obviously  the  one  alluded  to  by  the  con- 
fessant,  and  who  had  appeared  thoughtful  and  abstracted  dur- 
ing the  latter  part  of  the  conversation,  now  turned  to  the 
other,  and,  with  the  air  of  one  trying  to  recall  some  indistinct 
image  of  other  days,  observed: 

"I  have  some  strange  dim  recollections — but  what  circum- 
stances can  you  name  to  warrant  the  belief  you  have  just  ex- 
pressed ?" 

"Why,  if  I  am  right,"  answered  Darrow,  "as  I  still  think 
I  am,  you  must  have  had,  for  many  years,  if  you  have  not 
now,  the  proof  on  your  person!  For  before  I  parted  from  the 
boy,  I  pricked  two  crossed  arrov^^s,  with  lasting  ink,  into  his 
skin,  near  the  elbow." 

A  flash  of  joyous  intelligence  instantly  broke  over  the  beam- 
ing countenance  of  the  young  officer,  and,  as  quick  as  thought, 
his  arm  was  bared  and  held  exultingly  aloft,  disclosing  the 
still  visibly  impicted  arrows  to  the  astonished  and  delighted 
group  around  him. 

For  one  full  minute  not  a  word  was  uttered,  and  the  mute 
eloquence  of  the  speaking  countenance  alone  told  the  spring- 
ing emotions  of  those  most  interested  in  this  unexpected  but 
happy  denouement. 

"My  son!"  at  length  convulsively  burst  from  the  trembling 
lips  of  the  overpowered  father:  "God  bless — bless — bless" — 
and  then  his  voice  died  away  in  whimpering  murmurs,  as  fath- 
er, son,  and  daughter  rushed  into  one  long  sobbing  embrace. 

Aroused  in  a  short  time  from  this  absorbing  scene  of  gush- 
ing affections,  by  a  noise  from  the  wounded  man,  the  com- 
pany turned  toward  him.  A  change  was  passing  over  his  face, 
and  with  the  low  muttered  words,  "Eevenged — revenged  on 
the  destroyers  of  my  soul  and  body,  at  last!"  he  gave  one  long 
quivering  gasp  and  expired. 

On  the  proposal  of  Selden,  for  such,  for  convenience,  we 
will  for  the  present  continue  to  call  him,  the  company  now 
left  the  spot,  and  proceeded  to  an  open  and  unencumbered 
space  by  the  road  side,  where  the  whole  band  were  soon  as- 


THE    GREEN   MOUNTAIN    BOYS.  365 

sembled  preparatory  to  a  final  removal  from  the  scene  of 
action. 

At  that  instant  a  band  of  twenty  armed  horsemen  burst 
suddenly  from  the  woods,  and  came  pouring,  in  gallant  array, 
along  the  road  from  the  south  toward  the  spot.  From  their 
equipments  and  general  appearance,  they  were  instantly  dis- 
covered to  be  a  detachment  of  mounted  riflemen  from  the 
Continental  army,  headed  by  a  field  officer  of  considerable 
rank. 

"You  are  the  day  after  the  Fair,  my  hearties/'  gayly  re- 
marked Captain  Hendee,  whose  over-mastering  feelings  at 
the  recent  joyful  discovery,  had  now  settled  down  into  a  fine 
flow  of  spirits.  "But  I  am  glad  they  have  come,  for  I  want 
the  whole  world  to  know  how  proud  I  feel  of  my  new  found 
son." 

"Aye,  but  when  they  hear,"  replied  the  young  officer  in  the 
same  spirit,  "that  we  owe  this  victory,  and  with  it  our  lives, 
solely  to  the  old  veteran's  plan  of  blowing  up  the  enemy  by 
wholesale,  ten  to  one,  they  don't  say,  that  the  son  has  far 
the  more  reason  to  pride  himself  in  the  happy  discovery.  Se- 
riously, however,  the  arrival  of  these  men,  at  this  moment, 
is  most  opportune,  as  some  of  them,  doubtless,  will  give  up 
their  horses  to  convey  you,  the  females  and  children  from  the 
place.  But  what  ails  our  merry  friend  Jones,  yonder?"  he 
added,  pointing  to  the  scout,  who  stood  in  the  foreground, 
eagerly  and  with  mouth  agape,  looking  at  the  advancing  cav- 
alcade, and  holding  his  cap  in  his  hand,  as  if  about  to  hurl  it 
into  the  air,  in  some  joyous  outbreak. 

"He  is  about  to  v/elcome  them  with  a  few  cheers,  I  sus- 
pect," replied  the  Captain.  "And  hang  me,  if  I  don't  join 
him;  for  if  I  don't  give  vent  to  my  feelings  in  some  way,  I 
believe  my  old  broken  shell  of  a  heart  will  burst  for  very  joy, 
like  some  old  rusty  howitzer,  charged  to  the  muzzle  with  gun- 
powder." 

"No,  no,  father,"  rejoined  the  other  good  humoredly,  "joy 
rarely  proves  as  explosive  as  that,  I  imagine.  But  I  must 
forward  to  attend  to  this  reception  myself, — Jones,"  he  con- 
tinued, advancing  to  the  front,  "let  us  ascertain  their  object, 
and  a  little  more  exactly  who  they  are,  before  we  make  up 
our  mouths  for  much  of  a  hurra  on  the  occasion." 

"Well  that's  jest  what  I'm  at.  Captain,"  said  the  scout; 
"and  I  calkerlate  I  have  about  two-thirds  found  out  both  them 


366  THE    GREEN   MOUNTAIN   BOYS. 

particulars  already:  for,  if  twenty-four  hours  ago,  I  had  seen 
a  chap  riding  towards  me,  with  the  make,  and  bearing  of  that 
officer,  who  sits  so  splendid  in  his  saddle  yonder,  I  would  have 
sworn,  with  a  quarter  of  this  bothering,  that  it  was— and,  by 
the  living  Lazarus!  I'll  swear  it  is  now — so  here's  hurra' for 
the  unshot  Colonel!  hurra!  hurra!"  he  added,  throwing  his 
cap  thirty  feet  in  the  air,  and  leaping,  in  the  ecstasy  of  his 
joyous  emotions,  a  yard  from  the  earth  at  each  of  his  sten- 
torian shouts  in  the  last  of  which  he  was  heartily  joined  by  the 
whole  band  of  his  delighted  comrades,  as  their  beloved  com- 
mander, the  heroic  Warrington,  whom  they  had  mourned  as 
slain,  now  came  dashing  up  to  the  spot,  bowing  low  in  token  of 
acknowledgment  of  this  flattering  mark  of  their  esteem. 

"Had  you  dropped  down  from  the  clouds  before  our  eyes, 
Colonel  Warrington,"  said  Selden,  after  the  noise  and  bustle 
of  this  enthusiastic  reception  had  a  httle  subsided,  "vour  pres- 
ence could  have  scarcely  more  surprised  us." 

"Indeed!" 

"Yes,  you  was  reported  to  have  fallen  in  the  last  moments 
of  the  battle." 

"I  must  then  have  been  mistaken,  I  think,  for  Colonel 
Erancis." 

"Has  that  noble  fellow  then  indeed  been  added  to  the  hon- 
ored catalogue  of  martyrs  in  our  glorious  cause?" 

"I.  grieve  to  say  it. — He  fell  covered  with  wounds,  bravely 
fighting  at  the  head  of  his  regiment." 

"But  you,  and  your  men?" 

"We  yet  mostly  live  to  give  Burgoyne  a  thrashing.  But 
here,  overpowered  with  numbers,  by  my  own  orders,  we 
broke,  scattered  and  fled,  to  meet  again  at  Manchester.  Reach- 
ing Rutland  last  night,  and  guessing  at  your  course,  and  at 
your  danger,  I  collected  this  small  force,  and  hastened  to  the 
rescue.  And  now.  Captain,  for  your  report,  which,  with  these 
evidences  of  a  conflict  before  me,  I  should  dread  to  hear,  but 
for  the  merry  looks  of  the  men,  and  the  sunny  faces  of  my 
fair  friends,  whom  I  notice  yonder  in  the  rear." 

"All  in  good  time,  my  dear  Colonel;  but  come,  first  go 
along  with  me,"  said  Selden  with  a  significant  and  sKghtly 
mischievous  smile,  as  he  took  the  arm  of  his  superior,  anil 
urged  him  forward  to  the  spot  where  the  interesting  group 
to  which  he  had  just  alluded  still  stood,  in  the  agitation  of 


THE    GREEN    MOUNTAIN    BOYS.  367 

tlieir  joyful  surprise,  with  sparkling  eyes  and  happy  and  flut- 
tering hearts,  eagerly  waiting  to  greet  him. 

But  over  the  touching  and  tender  scene  that  followed, 
marked  as  it  was  by  the  reuniting  of  long  estranged  hearts, 
like  the  rushing  together  of  kindred  waters,  the  surprising 
announcement  of  Selden's  recently  discovered  relationship, 
and  the  mad  pranks  of  the  excited  old  veteran,  now  clamoring 
for  the  curses  of  Warrington  on  his  own  head,  for  his  blindness 
and  folly,  and  now  eagerly  bestowing  the  hand  of  his  daugh- 
ter, as  a  compensation  and  reward,  with  many  a  sob-broken 
ejaculation  for  blessings  on  the  happy  couple — over  all  this 
we  will  drop  the  curtain,  not  caring  to  trust  the  pen  to  vie 
with  the  reader's  outstripping  fancy  in  filling  up  the  picture. 

Before  another  hour  had  elapsed  the  whole  were  mounted 
and  in  motion,  on  their  unmolested  way  to  the  older  settle- 
ments in  the  southern  part  of  the  Grants. 


COFCLUSIOK 


The  rolling  seasons  had  nearly  completed  their  annual 
round  since  the  stirring  incidents,  which  we  last  narrated, 
transpired,  and  nature  was  again  enrobing  herself  in  the  leafy 
glories  of  summer.  The  great  struggle  on  the  northern  fron- 
tiers was  over.  The  battle  of  Bennington  had  been  fought 
and  won,  immortalizing  the  name  of  the  Eoman  Stark,  and 
covering  with  deathless  laurels  the  brave  Green  Mountain 
Boys.  The  whole  of  that  proud  army,  indeed,  that  swept,  the 
last  season,  so  vauntingly  along  these  desolated  shores,  had  felt 
the  vengeful  arm  of  young  Freedom,  and  withered  at  the  touch. 
The  inhabitants  on  the  borders  of  Champlain,  who  had  fled 
before  the  tempest  of  war,  had  mostly  returned,  and  were  now 
in  possession  of  their  unmolested  homes.  The  seat  of  their 
country's  strife  was  removed  to  a  distance.  And  the  hus- 
bandman was  again  following  his  plough  in  the  field;  the 
peaceful  sounds  of  the  axemen  were  heard  in  the  woods,  and 
the  hunter  once  more  roamed  his  deer-trod  hills  unsuspicious 
of  hostile  ambush. 

At  the  pleasant,  and  no  longer  desolate  cottage  of  Captain 
Hendee,  a  company,  evidently  much  larger  than  the  usual 
family  circle,  were  assembled.  The  old  veteran,  as  was  for- 
2^ 


368  THE    GREEN    MOUNTAIN    BOYS. 

merly  his  wont,  was  sitting  in  liis  easy  chair  before  one  of  the 
open  windows  of  the  parlor,  solacing  himself  with  his  old  com- 
panion, the  pipe.  The  other  window  was  occnpied  by  a  fine 
looking  military  person,  now  in  the  full  bloom  of  vigorous 
manhood,  richly  dressed  in  the  lace-trimmed  uniform,  and  the 
surmounted  badges  of  a  field  officer  in  the  Continental  army; 
while  by  his  side  sat  a  peerless  girl,  whose  simple,  but  rich 
and  tasteful  array  of  spotless  white,  surmounted  by  the  em- 
blematic rose  of  the  same  color,  instead  of  the  dumb,  un- 
speaking  jewel,  told  of  bridal  preparation.  They  were  gazing 
out  upon  the  glittering  expanse  of  the  breeze-ruffled  waters 
of  the  Lake,  and  the  gratified  eye  of  the  officer  was  resting 
on  the  bright  folds  of  his  country's  flag,  which  was  again 
proudly  waving  in  the  distance  over  the  walis  of  the  opposite 
fortress;  while  the  delicately  blended  fondness  and  respect, 
that  marked  the  blissful  look  of  each,  and  the  tender  pathos 
of  their  low  intermingling  voices,  as  they  exchanged  the  oc- 
casional remark,  betokened  the  presence  of  mutual  confidence 
and  love.  There  was  another  maiden  in  the  room,  scarcely 
less  beautiful  than  the  one  just  mentioned,  but  though  ar- 
rayed, like  her  fair  companion,  in  the  bridal  garb,  yet  she  sat 
unmated  and  alone,  now  listlessly  running  over  the  leaves  of  a 
little  volume  in  her  hand,  and  now  anxiously  and  impatiently 
glancing  through  the  window  along  one  road  to  the  south, 
as  if  expecting  the  appearance  of  some  one  from  that  quarter. 
The  only  other  person  at  present  in  this  apartment,  with  whom 
the  reader  has  been  made  acquainted,  was  a  modest,  staid  look- 
ing female,  who,  though  comely,  and  not  greatly  faded,  had 
yet  evidently  out-lived,  by  many  years, the  freshness  and  bloom 
of  beauty's  most  favored  period.  She  was  sitting  quietly  in 
a  corner,  partly  screened  from  the  rest  of  the  company  by 
the  door  that  swung  inward.  She,  also,  had  been  companion- 
less,  and  had  not,  like  the  restless  fair  one  last  described,  ap- 
peared to  expect  to  be  otherwise.  But  at  this  moment,  a 
singularly  tall,  woodsman-looking  fellow  came  stooping 
through  the  door-way  from  the  adjoining  room,  where  part 
of  the  company  still  remained;  when  after  throwing  a  half- 
sheepish,  half  mischievous  look  around  him,  apparently  to  see 
if  his  movement  was  particularly  noticed,  he  sidled  around  the 
swinging  door,  with  a  sort  of  hesitating,  stealthy  air,  and  sunk 
by  degrees  into  a  chair  beside  the  demure  looking  damsel  of 
whom  we  were  speaking. 


THE    GREEN    MOUNTAIN    BOYS.  369 

"Well,  now,  if  this  ain't  a  curious  fix!"  were  his  first  words — 
"I  Yow  to  I^^ever-come-Jack — a  sort  of  Saturday  in  the  after- 
noon-chap that  Ave  used  to  swear  by  in  the  army — if  it  ain't 
too  had!     Don't  you  think  so,  now,  honestly,  Miss  Ruth?" 

"What  is  it  that  you  complain  of  as  so  had,  Mr.  Jones?" 
replied  the  girl,  with  a  good-natured  and  encouraging  smile, 
which  seemed  instantly  to  reassure  her  somewhat  flustered 
companion,  as  he  replied: 

"What  do  I  complain  of? — Why  to  he  invited,  as  I  was,  by 
the  Colonel  and  Alma  there,  to  he  here  at  two  o'clock,  to  see 
three  weddings;  when  now  it  is  well  along  towards  night, 
and  one  bridegroom  don't  get  on  according  to  agreement,  and 
no  parson  come  to  fix  them  that  are  here  and  ready  for  it. 
Now,  I  like  to  see  folks  put  out  of  their  misery  in  some  kind 
of  season,  and  so  do  the  rest  of  them,  I've  a  notion:  only  Jest 
look  at  the  old  Captain  yonder!  He  is  getting  out  of  sorts  at 
the  delay,  rather  ra]3id,  a  body  would  guess,  by  the  manner 
he  is  puffing  away  at  his  old  comforter  there.  And  there  is 
the  Scotch  bird,  too;  may  I  miss  my  next  aim  on  Old  Trust^y, 
if  I  don't  believe  she'll  fly  away,  if  Major  Selden,  as  he  has 
now  got  to  be — Major  Hendee,  I  s'pose,  you'll  call  him  here 
— don't  come  soon." 

"Jessy  does,  indeed,  appear  rather  uneasy,"  observed  the 
other,  "and  I  really  wonder  Edward  don't  come,  myself.  He 
sent  us  word  that  he  expected  to  get  the  Sherwood  property  all 
settled,  so  as  to  start  from  Albany  yesterday  morning.  But 
you  said  three  weddings,  didn't  you?" 

"Three,  did  I  say,  Euth  ?"  said  Pete,  with  waggish  gravity. 
"Well,  two  then — that  is,  if  there  ain't  raaly  any  chance  to 
be  another,  no  way." 

"Well,  what  other  could  there  be?"  said  Ruth,  quite  inno- 
cently. 

"Well,  now,  I  can't  exactly  say,  but  I  was  thinking  it  was 
rather  a  pity  there  shouldn't  be  another  match  worked  up 
here  somehow?"  replied  the  scout,  with  a  look  at  the  other 
so  significant,  that  it  brought  the  blood  into  her  cheeks. 
"You  hold  to  save  time  and  expense,  don't  you?" 

"Why,  it  is  well  enough  to  think  of  that  in  some  cases,  per- 
haps," muttered  the  doubtful  and  confused  girl. 

"Then,  suppose,  when  the  priest  comes,"  said  the  other, 
with  a  roguish  squint  at  her  glowing  cheeks  and  downcast 

24 


S70  THE    GREEN    MOUNTAIN    BOYS. 

looks^  "suppose  you  jest  stand  up  with — with — with  old  Cap- 
tain Hendee  to  be  noosed  the  same  time  his  children  are?^^ 

"0  nonsense  Mr.  Jones/^  replied  the  girl,  greatly  relieved;, 
and  yet  evidently  disappointed  at  this  turn  in  the  scout^s  re- 
marks, which  she  supposed  were  to  terminate  in  proposing 
one  much  nearer  home — "Captain  Hendee!  why,  he  is  old 
enough  to  be  my  father!     Besides,  he  would  not  have  me/^ 

"Yes  he  would." 

"No  he  wouldn't." 

"Well,  if  he  should  flummux  at  such  a  chance,  I  know  of  a 
chap — and  not  too  old,  neither — who'll  agree  to  take  his 
place." 

"Really,  Mr.  Jones,  I  think  you  must  be  trying  to  trifle 
with  me?" 

"Mayhap  you've  mistaken,  now,"  said  Jones,  with  the  air 
of  one  about  to  make  some  hazardous  push,  but  looking 
keenly  about  for  some  chance  to  secure  his  retreat. 

"Then  how  am  I  to  consider  what  you  say?"  asked  the  other, 
seriously. 

"Why — why,"  said  Pete,  hesitating,  but  finding  himself  at  a 
point  where  he  must  back  out  entirely,  or  proceed  directly 
with  his  object,  he  added,  with  a  sort  of  desperate  resolu- 
tion— "yes,  I  will — so  here  goes  for  dead  ruin — you  may  con- 
sider it,  Euth,  as  good  and  earnest  an  offer,  as  ever  man  stuck 
an  axe  in  a  tree." 

"Why,  surely,  Mr.  Jones! — this  is  so  sudden — so  unex- 
pected, that  you  cannot  expect  me  now,  as  you  have  never  be- 
fore spoken  to  me  on  the  subject — " 

"N'o;  but  Tve  looked  at  )^ou  on  the  subject,  Euth;  and 
that  ain't  all — I  have  thought  on  the  subject,  and  that,  too, 
ever  since  I  left  off  sogering,  after  we  had  used  up  that  old 
trooper,  Burgoyne,  last  fall.  But  I  didn't  know  how  to  get  at 
the  bothering  business.  And  now  I  have  got  at  it,  I  want 
to  do  it  all  up,  while  I've  got  the  knack  of  it.  Now,  all  I've 
got  to  say  for  myself,  by  Vv^ay  of  recommendation,  is  jest  only 
this — I  have  a  farm,  and  can  love  like  a  two-year-old.  And, 
if  you  can  go  it  on  that,  let  us  agree  on  the  spot,  and  go  off 
with  the  rest." 

"Impossible,  Mr.  Jones — that  is  now — if — if — I  had  a  little 
time  for  reflection — perhaps — " 

"Good!  grand!  glorious!  I'll  give  you  time,  till  the  par- 
son comes — a  good  half  hour,  I'll  warrant  you,"  exclaimed 


THE    GREEN   MOUNTAIN    BOYS.  3tl 

the  woodsman,  leaping  np,  in  his  ecstasy,  and,  with  a  sud- 
den bolt  through  the  door,  bounding  oft'  into  the  fields,  and 
giving  vent  to  his  delighted  feelings  in  his  old  chorus,  "Trol, 
lol,lol,  delarly!" 

At  that  moment  a  horseman  rode  hastily  into  the  yard, 
leaped  from  his  saddle,  and,  with  a  few  light  and  joyous 
bounds,  landed  on  the  threshold. 

^^My  brother!"  exclaimed  Alma,  rising  and  rushing  to  the 
door. 

"My  son,  God  bless  you!"  said  the  Captain,  hobbling  for- 
ward, with  extended  hand.  "But  how  came  you  to  be  lagging 
at  such  a  juncture  as  this,  you  truant?" 

"0,  Edward!"  cried  Jessy,  bursting  from  an  adjoining  room, 
to  which  she  had  a  few  moments  before  retired.  "0,  Ed- 
w^ard!"  repeated  the  joyful  but  wayward  girl,  fl3ang  to  the 
open  arms  of  her  betrothed,  now  dashing  her  hands  about 
her  to  clear  her  way  among  the  advancing  group,  and  now 
shaking  her  slender  finger  aloft,  in  affected  menace,  as  she 
went,  "now,  if  I  don't  punish  you  for  this,  sir!  Back!  back! 
all  of  you,  till  I  deal  with  the  villain  for  his  conduct." 

"Eairly  a  prisoner,  sir;  you  may  as  well  surrender.  Major," 
gayly  observed  Warrington,  to  the  laughing  young  officer, 
now  enclosed  on  every  side  by  besieging  friends. 

"Aye,  a^^e.  Colonel,"  blithely  replied  the  latter;  "but  I  shall 
be  upon  my  parole  in  a  moment,  I  think;  when  I  will  pay 
my  respects — I  have  a  glad  secret  for  your  ear,  Warrington." 

"A  secret!  a  secret  to  be  kept  from  us,  at  this  hour!"  ex- 
claimed both  of  the  girls,  at  once,  summoning  a  storm  of  af- 
fected indignation  to  their  pretty  brows. 

"x\h!  you  little  tyrannizers!"  said  the  Major,  jocoseh^,  "you 
are  wise  to  make  the  most  of  your  power  now;  for  your  reign 
is  short.  I  saw  the  parson  falling  into  the  road  behind  me, 
about  a  mile  back." 

The  last  intimation  seemed  to  produce  an  instant  effect  on 
the  young  officer's  fair  assailants.  And  releasing  him  at  once, 
they  fled,  in  maidenly  dismay,  to  their  private  apartment,  to 
compose  and  prepare  themselves  for  the  happy,  though  half- 
dreaded  crisis. 

"Now,  my  son,  tell  us,  in  a  word,  what  success  you  have 
met  with  at  Albany,"  said  Captain  Hendee,  turning  to  his 
son,  as  the  girls  disappeared. 

"Very  fair*  the  business  is  all  definitely  settled  at  last." 


iJ72  THE    GREEN   MOUNTAIN    BOYS. 

"Eight  glad  to  hear  that;  but  first,  I  am  curious  to  know 
with  what  kind  of  a  face  that  black-hearted  imp  of  mischief, 
Jake  Sherwood,  met  you,  after  all  that  has  happened?" 

"It  was  not  till  after  many  fruitless  efforts^  and  a  long  ne- 
gotiation, carried  on  with  him  by  a  go-between  of  his  own 
kidne.y,  that  he  could  be  induced  to  come  from  his  lurking 
places,  to  face  me  at  all.  And  when  he  did,  it  was  with  the 
same  fawning  and  cringing,  the  same  dissembling  and  false- 
hood, that  has  marked  his  whole  career." 

*'And  what  kind  of  a  treaty  did  you  at  length  conclude 
with  the  arch  villain?" 

"Better  than  he  had  any  reason  to  expect  from  those  who 
had  both  the  right  and  the  power  on  their  side:  for,  after 
taking  from  the  estate,  that  part  which  Jake  had  counted  as 
his  own,  by  Uncle's  will,  when  I  was  considered  as  disposed 
of,  and  which,  of  course,  became  mine,  on  establishing  my 
identity  as  your  son — after  deducting  also  the  legacies,  which 
old  Sherwood's  conscience  wrung  from  him,  in  favor  of  you 
and  Alma,  together  with  the  sums  which  the  indefatigable 
Vanderpool  had  found  evidence  of  having  been  embezzled  by 
the  old  man  out  of  your  property — even  after  counting  your 
legacies  as  so  much  restitution — after  deducting  all  these, 
there  would  have  been  a  mere  pittance  in  equity,  and  nothing, 
probably,  in  law,  left  for  the  miscreant.  And  as  he  had  been 
apprised. of  this  by  Vanderpool,  whom  he  could  neither  in- 
timidate nor  corrupt,  he  chose  to  throw  himself  on  my  mercy, 
rather  than  contend  with  us  in  law." 

"Well,  as  skilfully  as  this  web  of  iniquity  was  woven,  it  is 
all  unraveled,  then,  at  last.  But  what  did  you  finally  allow 
him?" 

"A  thousand  pounds;  for,  while  I  despised,  I  could  not  but 
pity  the  abject  wretch.  He  signed  acquittances,  received  his 
portion,  in  money  and  drafts,  and,  the  same  day,  as  I  acci- 
dentally learned,  started  off  to  join  his  tory  brethren  at  the 
south." 

The  conversation  was  here  interrupted  by  the  arrival  of 
the  parson,  who  had  scarcely  been  ushered  into  the  house, 
before  yet  another  guest  was  announced.  This  was  the  ama- 
zon  widow,  who  now  rode  into  the  yard,  attended  by  Neshobee, 
each  having  a  brace  of  her  hardy  urchins,  disposed  of  behind 
and  before,  on  the  cruppers  and  necks  of  the  Captain's  thus 


THE    GREEN    MOUNTAIN    BOYS.  372 

trebly  burdened  horses,  which  had  been  kindly  sent  for  that 
purpose  early  in  the  morning. 

^'IsTot  at  the  eleventh  honr  after  all/'  said  the  woman,  as  with 
stately  tread  she  came  sweeping  into  the  room,  and  gave  her 
hand  snccessively  to  each  of  the  assembled  guests,  who  rose, 
and  with  looks  of  mingled  cordiality  and  respect,  advanced 
to  meet  her.  "Well,  I  ami  gratified  to  find  I  am  not  too  late 
to  witness  the  cerem^on^^,  though  another  motive  mainly 
prompted  my  coming." 

"Another  motive?"  said  the  Captain,  "what  might  that  be?" 

"Gratitude,"  rejoined  the  widow,  feelingly — "to  offer,  in 
person,  the  thanks  and  blessing  of  the  widow  and  fatherless 
to  these  brave  and  generous  young  ofiicers,  for  their  unde- 
served gift  of  fifty  pounds." 

"ISTot  underserved,  especially  from  us,  permit  me  to  say, 
Mrs.  Story,"  replied  Major  Hendee.  "And  our  only  fear  was, 
that  it  would  not  even  requite  you  for  the  losses  you  sustained 
on  our  account  on  that  fearful  night,  which  none  of  us  can 
ever  forget." 

"Not  requite  me?  0,  more — doubly  so,"  replied  the  wom- 
an, mastering  her  grateful  emotions,  and  resuming  her  nat- 
urally free  and  easy  manner:  "Why,  gentlemen,  if  you  would 
but  visit  us  there  now,  you  would  see  a  new  house  worth  two 
of  the  old  one;  flourishing  crops,  and  a  well  provisioned  and 
happy  family — and  all  from  your  bounty." 

"Our  pittance,  if  you  please,"  observed  the  Colonel,  "and 
that  too,  under  the  management  of  one,  who,  I  must  say,  of 
all  women — " 

"Has  the  least  patience  with  a  flatterer, .  Colonel,"  inter- 
rupted the  widow  with  good-natured  bluntness,  jumping  up 
and  going  to  the  window,  as  something  seemed  suddenly  to 
occur  to  her  mind.  "Now,  I  should  like  to  know  if  you  gen- 
tlemen can  tell  me,"  she  resumed,  after  gazing  out  on  the  lake 
a  moment,  "I  should  like  to  know  the  meaning  of  the  great 
stir  I  noticed  over  at  the  fort,  as  I  came  down  the  road:  one 
would  think  they  were  preparing  for  a  battle." 

"We  heard  a  firing  in  the  direction  of  Ticonderoga  an  hour 
or  two  ago,  which  we  could  not  account  for,  but  have  noticed 
nothing  unusual  over  here,  I  believe,"  said  Captain  Hendee, 
looking  inquiringly  at  the  two  officers. 

"Ah!   your   promised   secret,   Major?"   cried   Warrington, 


374  THE    GREEN    MOUNTAIN    BOYS. 

perceiving  a  knowing  and  mysterious  smile  upon  the  coun- 
tenance of  the  other. 

"You  shall  have  it  now — the  rest  of  the  company  will  know 
it  soon/^  replied  the  Major^  approaching  his  superior  and 
w^hispering  in  his  ear. 

"God  bless  you  for  the  news!"  exclaimed  the  Colonel^  with 
a  look  of  joyful  surprise.     "But  where  did  you  meet  him?" 

"At  Bennington,  where  he  arrived  but  three  days  ago  amidst 
the  roar  of  guns  and  the  shouts  of  a  rejoicing  people.  I  per- 
suaded him  to  come  on  with  me,  as  he  did,  to  Skenesboro'; 
when  he  took  the  water,  while  I  came  by  land,  having  first 
dispatched  a  runner  to  notify  the  garrisons  at  the  two  posts 
of  his  approach." 

"Heaven  be  praised!"  rejoined  Warrington,  "and  let  the 
Green  Mountains  rejoice!" 

"They  will,  soon;  for  yonder  he  comes,  by  Jove!"  exclaimed 
the  Major,  eagerly  pointing  out  ujoon  the  lake. 

At  that  instant  the  house  shook  and  trembled  to  the  rever- 
berating roar  of  a  twenty-four  pounder,  belching  forth  a  cloud 
of  fire  and  smoke  from  the  gray  v/alls  of  the  opposite  fortress. 

The  surprised  and  startled  company  instantly  rushed  into 
the  yard.  A  light  sail  boat  had  just  made  her  appearance 
on  the  lake  from  the  south,  and  with  bellying  canvas,  was  now 
scudding  raj^idly  before  the  freshening  breeze,  with  her  course 
evidently  let  for  the  fort.  As  she  neared,  a  tall,  erect,  mili- 
tary figure  apjoeared  conspicuousl};'  standing  on  the  forecastle, 
with  folded  arms,  gazing  steadily  forward  towards  the  works, 
around  wdiose  ramparts  w^ere  seen  the  long  rows  of  the  ex- 
pectant officers  and  soldiers  of  the  garrison;  while,  at  mo- 
mentary intervals,  came  the  welcoming  peal  of  the  deep- 
mouthed  gun.  At  length  the  sails  of  the  vessel  were  furled, 
and  she  swept  around  and  lay  to,  directly  abreast  of  the  fort; 
which,  the  next  instant,  was  suddenly  enveloped  in  a  spring- 
ing cloud  of  smoke,  while  the  tall  forest  around  nodded  to 
the  united  roar  of  a  dozen  cannon,  among  the  broken  echoes 
of  which,  as  they  rolled  from  shore  to  shore  and  died  away 
among  the  far  responding  mountains,  was  heard  the  noisy 
salute  of  drums,  and  the  reiterated  cheers  of  the  soldiery, 
once  more  making  the  welkin  ring  with  the  name  of  "Ethan 
Allen!" 

After  a  brief  interval  of  silence,  the  same  little  craft  was 
seen,  with  hoisted  sails,  emerging  from  the  lifting  clouds  of 


THE    GREEN    MOUNTAIN    BOYS.  375 

smoke,  and  making  lier  way  directly  across  the  lake  towards 
the  cottage.  And  in  ten  minutes  more  the  hero  of  the  Green 
Mountains,  unexpectedly  returned  from  a  long  and  painful 
captivity,  was  received,  and  ushered  into  the  house  amidst 
the  warm  and  unfeigned  congratulations  of  the  rejoicing 
party. 

"Well,  Colonel  Allen,"  said  Captain  Hendee,  scanning  the 
thin  and  worn  person  of  the  other,  as  they  all  became  seated 
in  the  room,  "'they  have  rather  worsted  you  in  your  captivity, 
I  perceive:  you  are  now  hardly  the  staunch  and  iron-hound 
fellow  you  was  three  years  ago,  when  eight  or  ten  armed  hire- 
lings came  here  to  seize  you  as  a  York  outlaw,  hut  were  fairly 
cowed  out  of  the  attempt  till  they  supposed  you  asleep,  and  a 
little  worse  off  than  that,  too,  perhaps." 

"Aha!  my  old  friend,  do  you  remember  that  foolish  scrape?" 
replied  Allen.  '''No,  no.  Captain,  not  the  man  I  was  then," 
he  added,  glancing  over  the  huge  raw  bones  of  his  shrunken 
frame  with  a  melancholy  smile;  "no,  the  British  could  never 
forgive  me  for  taking  old  Ti.;  so  with  characteristic  magna- 
nimity to  a  fallen  foe,  they  took  their  revenge  by  battering, 
hewing,  hacking,  and  starving  the  old  body,  till  there  is  scarce- 
ly enough  left  of  it  to  furnish  a  habitable  tenement  for  the 
soul,  which  remains  as  whole  and  sound  as  ever;  for  that, 
thank  God,  they  could  neither  kill  nor  bribe." 

"Bribe!  bribe!  did  they  really  try  to  do  that?"  exclaimed 
the  young  officers,  laughing  at  the  thought  of  an  attempt  to 
buy  up  Ethan  Allen. 

"To  be  sure,  did  the  infernal  fools!"  said  Allen,  ^''and  that 
more  than  once;  though  the  last,  and  perhaps  the  best  offer 
I  ever  had  to  induce  me  to  damn  myself,  that  is,  to  become  one 
of  them,  was  made  me  by  a  high  dignitary  of  the  crown, 
who,  in  behalf  of  his  prince,  as  he  said,  offered  me  nearly  half 
the  lands  in  Vermont,  if  I  would  enter  his  service  against  my 
countrymen! — the  Christless  knave!  It  was  well  for  him  that 
I  was  handcuffed,  at  the  time." 

"And  what  answer  did  you  give  him?"  asked  Warrington, 
curiously. 

"Answer?"  replied  Allen,  smoothing  his  dark  brows,  which 
had  become  fierce  and  stormy  at  the  remembered  insult,  "what 
answer?  why,  I  told  the  royal  ape  to  go  and  tell  his  master, 
that  he- reminded  me,  in  his  offer  to  give  me  lands  in  America, 
of  a  certain  other  prince,  mentioned  in  Scripture,  who  took 


376  THE    GHS3N    MOUNTAIN    BOYS. 

the  Savior  up  into  a  high  mountain,  and  showing  him  all  the 
kingdoms  of  the  world,  offered  to  give  him  the  whole  of  th^m, 
if  he  would  fall  down  and  worship  him, — when  the  fact  was, 
the  poor  devil  had  not  a  single  foot  of  land  on  earth  to  give!" 

The  subject  vv'as  here  dropped  by  common  consent;  when, 
after  a  brief  pause.  Major  Hendee  turned  a  significant  look 
upon  his  father,  who  seemed  readil}^  to  understand  what  was 
now  expected  of  him,  and  he  accordingly  observed: — 

"I  suppose  you  have  been  apprised.  Colonel  Allen,  of  the 
happy  occasion,  upon  which,  after  all  our  troubles,  we  have 
been  permitted  to  assemble?" 

"I  have  sir,"  gallantly  answered  the  other,  "and  I  felt  that 
my  peculiar  notions,  relative  to  the  certainty  of  the  earthly 
rewards  of  bravery  and  virtue,  were  strikingly  confirmed,  when 
I  learned  that  my  tvro  friends  here  were  about  to  draw  such 
rich  prizes  in  the  lottery  of  life." 

"Ah!  Colonel  Allen,"  exclaimed  Jessy  archly,  "you,  too, 
caught  playing  the  flatterer?  I  had  thought  well  enough  of 
you  to  believe  you  an  exception  to  the  generality  of  men,  in 
that  respect.  But  Fll  expose  you,  my  brave  Colonel! — "What 
did  you  say  and  predict  at  the  time  you  captured  Ticonderoga, 
respecting  the  intimacy  which  you  were  then  accidentally 
led  to  suspect  existed  between  your  then  Lieutenant  Selden 
and  Colonel  Reed's  daughter?" 

"Why  the  deuce  is  to  pay!"  cried  Allen,  taken  rather  aback 
by  his  fair  antagonist — "there  has  been  treason  here,  some- 
where. I  recollect  something  about  my  misgivings  in  the 
matter.  But  I  am  not  a  going  to  be  tricked  out  of  my  com- 
pliment, at  all  events;  for  if  the  daughter  of  a  British  Colonel 
has  the  independence  to  marry  a  Yankee  rebel,  she  must  be, 
to  him,  at  least,  a  prize  richly  worth  the  winning." 

"She  is  not  married  yet,"  observed  Captain  Hendee,  with 
well  assumed  seriousness:  "for  before  that  is  suffered  to  take 
place,  I,  who  stand  as  a  sort  of  sponsor  for  the  girl,  must  be 
heard  in  the  business:  and  to  this  end,  I  beg  leave  to  read  a 
little  from  my  letter  of  instructions  from  her  father;  whicli 
I  have  never  before  made  known,"  he  added,  producing  a  let- 
ter, from  which  he  proceeded  to  read  to  his  surprised  and 
wondering  auditors  the  following  extract: 

"Wi'  regard  to  that  wayward  bairn  o^  mine,  an'  that  Mr. 
Xabody,  her  rebel  lover,  as  I  became  satisfied  he  was,  it  is 
out  o'  the  question  I  should  be  consentin'  to  a  match  of  sic' 


THE    GREEN    MOUNTAIN    BOYS.  377 

a  sort.  ISTa,  she  must  be  cured,  an'  in  some  sic  wav  as  I  named 
to  you.  An^  that  being  done^  then  her  old  lover,  Major  Skene, 
will  come  in  for  an  eas}^  conquest.  But  in  your  moves  to  this 
object,  let  me  again  caution  you  to  beware  how  you  forbid 
this  intimacy;  for  ever  since  mother  Eve's  dido  wi'  the  ap- 
ple, the  moment  you  forbid,  the  Diel  taks  the  woman." 

''Father,  how  is  this,  and  at  this  late  hour?"  exclaimed 
the  astonished  son,  glancing  from  the  former  to  the  no  less 
surprised  girl  at  his  side,  who  also  began  to  open  her  lips  in 
remonstrance,  when,  detecting  a  lurking  smile  on  the  old  gen- 
tleman's countenance,  she  stopped  short. 

^'Perhaps  we  may  as  well  read  a  passage  from  another  let- 
ter of  a  more  recent  date,"  said  the  Captain,  opening  another 
paper,  from  which,  after  slyly  enjoying  the  perplexity  of  the 
party  interested,  a  moment,  he  read, — 

''So  you  sly  old  Yankee,  you  an'  Jessy  have  contrived  to 
checkmate  me  at  last!  This  comes  o'  leaving  a  daughter  in  a 
land  o'  rebellion:  nathless  I  canna  but  sa}^,  I  regret  that  cir- 
cumstances will  not  permit  me  to  be  present  to  take  my  stoup 
on  the  merry  occasion,  which  you  say,  wi'  my  consent,  is  to  tak 
place  early  the  coming  summer:  weel,  you  may  tell  the  youn- 
ker,  wi'out  hinting  my  good  opinion  o'  him  as  aboon  written, 
that,  upon  the  whole,  I  will  own  him  as  a  son-in-law,  provided 
he  will  tak  the  crap  o'  wild  oats  which  the  chick,  frae  sa 
plentifu'  a  sowing,  must  now  hae  ready  for  the  reaping,  as  a 
portion  o'  the  vrife's  dowry." 

^'Gad!  I  begin  to  like  the  humorous  old  fellow,"  said  Allen, 
^^and  that  stoup  which  ht  regrets  he  can  not  take  with  us,  I 
will  drink  to  his  health  as  an  extra  bumper  after  the  cere- 
mony. Though  before  that  takes  place,  I  would  ask  if  there 
are  no  more  cases  which  might  be  settled  at  this  time?" 

'^^e  know  of  none,"  replied  the  Captain  and  his  son,  to 
whom  the  last  part  of  the  speaker's  remarks  had  been  ad- 
dressed in  an  undertone. 

"I  don't  know  about  that,"  rejoined  the  former,  "I  have 
been  looking  about  me  a  little,  and  it  strikes  me  that  there 
are  materials  enough,  at  least.  If  you  will  make  me  master 
of  the  ceremonies,  with  powers  to  draw  out  the  parties?" — 

^'Certainly,  certainly.  Colonel,"  replied  the  others,  laugh- 
ing, but  shaking  their  heads  dubiously  at  the  well  understood 
suggestion. 

^^No  faith,  eh?     Well,  there  is  nothing  like  tr}dng,"  re- 


378  THE    GREEN    MOUNTAIN    BOYS. 

joined  Allen.  "Jones/^  he  continued^  now  turning  round  to 
the  scont,  who  had  resnmed  his  seat  by  the  side  of  Ruth, 
"Jones,  you  have  been  a  brave  fellow — how  is  it  that  you  are 
not  to  be  rewarded,  at  this  time,  as  well  as  the  rest?^^ 

"Well,  Tyb  jest  been  thinking,  Colonel,'^  replied  Jones, 
screwing  up  his  phiz,  now  queerly  streaked  with  blushes, 
"that  it  was  rather  a  hard  case,  considering,  that  I  shouldn't 
have  any  share  in  the  loaves  and  fishes.  But  the  fact  is, 
that  the  fish  Fve  had  in  my  eye,"  he  added,  casting  a  sheepish 
glance  at  Euth,  "won't  quite  say  whether  I'm  to  be  in  luck 
to-day,  or  not." 

"Aha!  just  as  I  thought.  But  she  shall  say,"  cried  Allen, 
advancing  a  step  towards  the  confused  and  blushing  maiden, 
on  whom  all  eyes  were  now  turned  in  surprise,  at  this  develop- 
ment of  a  courtship  so  little  expected;  ''she  shall  g-ive  you  an 
answer,  at  least,  or,  b}^  the  wrath  of  Cupid!  she  shall  be  pun- 
ished for  her  cruelty  by  running  a  kissing  gauntlet  through 
the  company.  And  I'll  have  the  first  one,"  he  added,  still  fur- 
ther advancing,  as  if  to  suit  the  action  to  the  word. 

"It  is  so  ridiculous!"  stammered  the  shrinking  Euth. 

"Perhaps  you  had  rather  say  yes  to  my  worthy  friend,  here?" 
said  the  former,  his  lip  slightly  curling  with  a  sportive  smile. 

"I  should — that  is,  I — I  should,"  replied  the  girl,  dropping 
her  head  in  confusion. 

"Do  you  see  that?"  exultingly  said  Allen — "I  have  succeed- 
ed in  spite  of  your  faithlessness:  nor  do  I  believe  my  triumphs 
need  end  even  here." 

"Ah!  I  will  knock  under.  Colonel,"  observed  the  Captain, 
laughing. 

"Ay,  ay,"  responded  the  Major,  gayly,  "we  must  now 
acknowledge  your  prowess  in  the  court  of  Cupid,  as  well  as  in 
the  camp  of  Mars.  But  be  not  over  ambitious,  lest  your  zeal 
be  dampened  by  a  failure.  Where  will  you  find  materials 
for  another  triumj^h?" 

"Here,"  answered  the  other,  pointing  to  I^eshobee  and  Zil- 
pah,  who,  for  reasons  best  understood  by  themselves,  had 
also  paired  off  in  a  corner  together.  "I  have  been  reading 
eyes,  which  are  about  the  only  book  I  ever  read  where  we  are 
sure  of  the  truth;  and  if  those  who  control  these  persons 
should  have  no  objections — " 

"Never  mind  that.  Colonel,  if  you  have  faith  for  the  trial," 


THE    GREEN   MOUNTAIN    BOYS.  379 

exclaimed  the  old  Captain^  entering  into  the  full  spirit  of 
the  game. 

"IJpon  my  word,  Colonel  Allen,  I  think  you  a  most  incor- 
rigible meddler;  but  you  may  proceed,  for  aught  I  care,"  said 
Miss  Eeed,  pouting  most  beautifully. 

"Ah,  don^t  laugh,  ye  wise  ones,  till  you  see,''  said  the  jovial 
matchmaker,  confidently.  "Well,  Miss  Zilpah,''  he  contin- 
ued, familiarly  addressing  the  half-blood,  "you  see  which 
way  your  young  mistress  is  about  to  travel — now,  as  you  in- 
tend to  f ollov/  her  fortunes,  don't  you  think  it  would  be.  more 
pleasant  and  suitable  for  you,  to  have  some  such  brave  and 
trusty  companion  on  the  road  as  Neshobee  here  would  make 
you?" 

"Ki!"  exclaimed  the  girl,  with  a  blush  which  brought  her 
cheek  to  a  fellow  redness  with  that  of  the  young  Indian  by 
her  side.  "He!  you  queer  man!  But  Neshobee,  he  no  hab 
me. 

"Good!"  cried  the  former,  "there  is  a  challenge  for  you, 
my  red  friend.    She  says  you  won't  marry  her!" 

"Umph!"  uttered  the  still  grave,  though  evidently  delight- 
ed native,  "me  never  know  Zilpah  tell  lie  before." 

"There!  you  unbelievers,"  exclaimed  Allen,  looking  round 
triumphantly  upon  the  company,  "see  what  a  man  can  do. 
N"ow  parson,  do  your  duty." 

Header,  our  story  is  told,  and,  with  a  word  upon  the  subse- 
quent career  of  those  in  whose  destinies  we  trust  we  have  been 
able  in  some  degree  to  interest  you,  we  will  bid  you  adieu. 

Of  that  singular,  bold,  rough,  versatile,  yet  honest  and 
strong-minded  man,  Ethan  Allen,  little  more  need  be  said. 
The  remainder  of  his  public  life  was  devoted  to  the  accom- 
plishment of  that  object,  for  which  he  had  so  fearlessly  con- 
tended before  the  Revolution,  the  independence  of  his  state. 
And  her  history  sufficiently  attests  to  the  importance  of  his 
services. 

The  gallant  young  officers,  after  their  twice  extended  fur- 
loughs had  expired,  leaving  their  lovely  and  loving  wives  at 
the  cottage  of  Captain  Hendee,  to  cheer  and  soothe  the  old 
veteran  in  his  declining  years,  and,  in  due  time,  to  render 
his  second  childhood  anything  but  companionless,  returned 
to  their  posts  in  the  army  in  which,  honored  and  distin- 
guished^ they  remained^  till  they  had  witnessed  the  achieve- 


380  THE    GREEN   MOUNTAIN   BOYS. 

ment  of  their  country's  independence;  when  they  retired 
to  their  homes  in  the  Green  Mountains^  to  receive  from  their 
fellow-citizens  those  substantial  memorials  of  their  esteem 
which  may  still  be  found  recorded  among  some  of  the  early 
acts  of  the  Legislature  of  Vermont^  granting  valuable  tracts 
of  land  to  certain  individuals  for  important  public  services. 

Pete  Jones  and  his  staid  spouse  immediately  repaired  to 
their  little  opening  in  the  woods,  where,  having  renewed  his 
acquaintance  with  his  rusty  axe,  he  caused  the  forest  to  melt 
away  before  his  powerful  arm,  till  his  labors  were  rewarded 
by  one  of  the  best  farms  on  the  borders  of  the  lake;  while 
his  wife  became  one  of  the  most  notable  of  housewives,  hav- 
ing never  had  cause  to  regret  her  abrupt  connection  with  the 
eccentric,  though  amiable  woodsman,  as  may  be  inferred 
from  the  opinions  she  was  often  heard  to  express  in  favor  of 
long  men  and  short  courtships. 

Widow  Story  remained  on  her  farm,  cultivating  and  en- 
larging it  with  her  own  hands  for  many  years;  when,  her  old- 
est son,  having  at  length  been  enabled  to  butt  his  mother,  to 
use  a  chopper^s  phrase,  that  is,  to  get  off  his  cut  first,  in  a 
trial  of  skill  on  the  same  log,  she  concluded  to  betake  herself 
to  household  duties,  giving  up  her  farm  work  to  her  sturdy 
little  band  of  foresters,  who,  in  the  process  of  time,  let  in 
the  sun  on  extensive  tracts  of  some  of  the  finest  lands  on 
Otter  Creek. 

INTeshobee  and  his  yellow  rib  continued  to  reside  on  the 
farm  of  Captain  Hendee,  in  a  log  hut  built  expressly  for  them, 
till  the  old  gentleman's  death;  when  they  removed  to  the 
woody  shores  of  the  Horicon,  where  they  spent  their  days  in 
a  ceaseless  warfare  upon  the  beautiful  trout  of  the  lake,  and 
the  deer,  bear,  and  other  wild  animals  of  its  surrounding 
shores. 

And,  lastly,  the  miscreant  Sherwood,  who,  through  the  in- 
scrutable ways  of  Providence,  was  permitted  j;o  live.  Cain- 
like, to  old  age,  found  his  way,  at  the  close  ,of^he"  Revolu- 
tion, to  the  common  refuge  of  American  tories  in  Canada, 
where  he  finished  his  days  in  poverty  and  disgrace,  always 
obtaining  credit  by  flattery  and  falsehood,  always  abusing  it 
by  fraud  and  treachery,  and  living,  indeed,  abhorred  by  men, 
and  seemingly  accursed  of  God. 

THE   END. 


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